Overview of the Melton Lab
Craniofacial Development
The research in the Melton laboratory focuses on understanding the causes of craniofacial defects. The specific aim of our research is to understand the tissue interactions that direct the formation, migration and differentiation of cranial neural crest cells.
Every hour, a baby is born with a craniofacial defect, and craniofacial defects account for one third of all congenital defects, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality for children worldwide. Cranial neural crest cells are unique migratory and multipotent cells that form the major structures of the head and face, including bone, cartilage, teeth, connective tissue, glands and the peripheral nervous system. Abnormalities in cranial neural crest development cause or contribute to craniofacial defects in the majority of cases. During the process of differentiation, the cranial neural crest has been shown to be responsive to the tissue environment that surrounds it, responding to signals from the ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm. Thus craniofacial defects may also be caused by changes in the tissue environment of the neural crest and the signaling networks established by these tissues.
The long-term goal of our research is to understand how tissues like the endothelium and cranial mesoderm signal to the cranial neural crest (CNC) and to identify genetic abnormalities in these tissues that result in craniofacial defects. Although much is known about the development of the cranial neural crest, little is understood about the tissues that signal to the neural crest and influence neural crest cell fate. Understanding the external tissue signals that regulate neural crest differentiation, such as endothelial signals, will help us identify the causes of craniofacial birth defects, may help us manipulate repair during craniofacial surgery, and may contribute understanding to other neural crest disease processes such as neurofibromatosis and neuroblastoma.
Research Topics
Contact Dr. Melton
Kristin R. Melton, MD
Section of Neonatology, Pulmonary and Perinatal Biology
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
3333 Burnet Avenue, ML 7009, Lab R4447
Cincinnati, OH 45229
Phone: 513-803-0022
Fax: 513-636-7868
Email: kristin.melton@cchmc.org
