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Investigate the connection between mechanical cues and epithelial differentiation genes in midface development.

February 22, 2026Open Access

First person – Helen Molteni

Key Points

Investigate the connection between mechanical cues and epithelial differentiation genes in midface development.
Conducted a small-molecule screen to identify compounds affecting epithelial differentiation.
Focused on the role of Irf6 in orofacial clefts.
Interviews conducted with first authors to discuss their research contributions.
Identified elafibranor as a crucial link between mechanical cues and epithelial differentiation.
Highlighted the importance of Irf6-dependent pathways in midface developmental processes.

Abstract

ABSTRACT First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Disease Models & Mechanisms, helping researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Helen Molteni is first author on ‘A small-molecule screen identifies that elafibranor links mechanical cues and Irf6-dependent epithelial differentiation’, published in DMM. Helen is a Craniofacial Surgeon-Scientist Training Fellow in the lab of Eric Liao at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA, investigating genetic drivers of orofacial clefts, emphasizing the role of epithelial differentiation genes in midface development.

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