Pioneering Regenerative Solutions for Cleft Lip and Palate Care

The University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Dentistry is embarking on an innovative research project with the help of a $25,000 DTA Foundation grant. Targeting the 10,000+ individuals born with cleft lip and/or palate each year, this project aims to design a novel regenerative therapy option for these patients. As there is currently no off-the-shelf option to help the palate to heal, patients must go through extensive, repeated surgical procedures to harvest bone from the hip to then implant into the palate defect. They’re hoping to prove there’s a better option. If successful, their solution could drastically lessen the global burden of cleft lip and/or palate care on patients, their families, and the healthcare system. Data from this pilot project will be crucial for their next step of submitting an application for a phase 1 clinical trial.