Craniofacial malformations, including cleft palate, are among the most common birth defects in humans. Although mutations for several cleft palate syndromes have been identified, the causes for most cleft palate cases are still unknown. To better understand the causes and pathogenic mechanisms of cleft palate and other craniofacial malformations, our lab uses a combination of mouse genetics, genome editing, and modern cell and developmental biology approaches to unravel the molecular mechanisms of craniofacial and palate development.