Drs. Michael Longaker (L), Derrick Wan (C), and Dayan Li (R). Image courtesy Stanford Medicine News Facial wounds may hold the key to minimizing scarring, according to new preclinical research that studied why the face heals differently than the trunk and extremities. The findings, published Jan. 22, 2026, in Cell , outline a neural crest–derived fibroblast program and a ROBO2–EP300 signalling pathway that together drive a more regenerative, less-fibrotic pattern of repair.​