The Van Otterloo Lab explores the genetic and molecular mechanisms that shape the vertebrate face, with a focus on craniofacial development. Over the past decade, the lab has investigated how transcription factors and gene regulatory networks guide the formation of facial structures, particularly through the interactions between neural crest cells and craniofacial ectoderm. By uncovering how these processes contribute to normal development and congenital anomalies, the lab aims to advance our understanding of facial morphogenesis and inform future therapeutic strategies.

• Iowa Institute for Oral Health Research

• Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology

• Department of Periodontics