Global strategies to reduce the health care burden of craniofacial anomalies: report of WHO meetings on international collaborative research on craniofacial anomalies.

Although several significant research projects have arisen from international cooperation, especially in the field of genetics, these have been the exception rather than the rule. However, those of us who had the privilege and delight of participating in the World Health Organization meetings were struck by a common realization of the vast potential of systematic international cooperation. It is clear that the global model will be the most effective approach for tackling the big questions in craniofacial anomalies, be they concerned with cause, treatment, or prevention. This report will serve as a road map for making collaboration the rule and not the exception and hopefully be a stimulus for the creation of partnerships between international research teams and funding agencies.