About Us

Our Mission

Founded in 2001, the Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics (CCDG) has been a major research hub within the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences in the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. A multidisciplinary research group, the CCDG combines investigators from fields as diverse as human genetics, molecular and cell biology, biostatistics, biological anthropology and developmental biology. 

CCDG investigators and their labs focus on several major research themes:

• Population-based genetics and epidemiology of craniofacial malformations. Oral clefts are among the most common malformations that affect humans. In most cases, the cause is unknown. By leveraging our datasets of families from around the world, CCDG researchers are revealing the genetic and non-genetic factors that increase the risk for oral clefts.
• Population-based genetics and epidemiology of dental anomalies and diseases. The causes of dental anomalies such as congenitally missing teeth and common dental diseases such as caries and periodontal disease are poorly understood. CCDG investigators are looking at the influence of genes on these and other dental-related traits.
• Biological and social factors driving oral health disparities. Poor oral health is a major public health concern, especially as we learn more about the close relationship between oral and overall health. There are great differences in oral health outcomes among people and the reasons are very complex. CCDG investigators are uncovering the genetic, social, behavioral and microbial factors that drive these differences, in an effort to reduce oral health disparities.
• Genetics of normal-range human facial features. Our facial appearance is strongly influenced by our genes. This is why people often bear a strong resemblance to their family members. But researchers know little about which genes are involved and how those genes impact different facial features. CCDG investigators have identified hundreds of genes associated with human facial shape, with implications for our understanding of facial malformations, human evolution and forensics.
• Functional and mechanistic basis of craniofacial development and malformations. How exactly do our genes coordinate the formation of our heads and faces? What developmental processes go astray that lead to a facial malformation? Using cell-based and animal model-based approaches along with advanced computational modeling, CCDG investigators are uncovering the complicated molecular mechanisms driving craniofacial form, variation and disorders.
• Deep phenotyping of the craniofacial complex. Quantifying the shape of anatomical structures is fundamental to understanding the path from molecules to morphology. This is true whether the focus is an embryo or an adult or, likewise, a mouse or a human. By combining various 3D imaging modalities with morphometric approaches, CCDG investigators explore new and innovative methods to quantify craniofacial structures for both genetic and molecular studies. 

The CCDG’s global reach involves collaboration with investigators throughout the U.S., Europe, Central and South America, Asia and Africa. CCDG investigators also maintain a close working relationship with the Department of Human Genetics and several clinical departments in the School of Dental Medicine. Funding for CCDG investigators comes primarily from the National Institutes of Health.