From Bedside to Bench and Back: Advancing Our Understanding of the Pathophysiology of Cleft Palate and Implications for the Future.

Increased translation of pathophysiological and tissue regeneration studies to clinical trials will bridge a wide gap in knowledge between animal models and human disease. By enhancing interaction between basic scientists and clinicians, and employing our animal model findings of disease mechanisms in concert with what we glean in the clinic, we can generate a more targeted and improved treatment algorithm for patients with CP.