Restoring Faces | Rebuilding Lives | Reimagining Science

Mission

The REFACE Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to supporting research and education in regenerative technologies and improving surgical outcomes in craniofacial reconstruction.

Our Projects

Making Materials to Regenerate Bone

Over 5 million people receive artificial implants made of metals and plastics to replace bone every year in the United States.

Our goal is to replace all of these implants with regenerative materials that can help each of these people make the bone that they have lost.

Our major project right now is developing regenerative materials made of proteins and other molecules normally found in healing bone to trick the body into making more bone where we need it.

Improving Facial Reconstructive Surgery

Over 13.8 million people each year undergo reconstructive surgery of the face and skull globally.

Our goal is to make all of these surgeries better by centering on the patient.

Our major project right now is supporting a comprehensive preoperative program that span nutrition, physical activity, and mental health to prepare patients for facial reconstructive surgery to achieve best possible outcomes.

Our People

Justine C. Lee, MD, PhD, FACS

President and Founder

Dr. Justine Lee is a craniofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon-scientist. Her clinical practice is focused entirely on facial reconstruction. She started this foundation to help her patients through science by developing surgically-practical regenerative materials and methods for improving facial reconstructive surgery.

Directors

Elizabeth Nguyen-Espinoza

Director

Liz Nguyen-Espinoza is a former FDA investigator who has spent her retirement from civil service as a philanthropist and businesswoman.

Han Hoang, MD

Director

Dr. Han Hoang is a craniofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon in private practice.

Our Story

The REFACE Foundation was born on September 1, 2025 in response to the changes in federal funding for medical research. On August 1, 2025, the federal government froze over $584 million dollars in grants for research to UCLA.

Mine was one of them.

Our NIH grant funded our laboratory research on making regenerative biomaterials to heal bone for people after trauma, cancer, stroke, or any craniofacial reconstructive surgical reason.

I came to the conclusion that we need to re-imagine how we do science.

What if We the People were empowered to control scientific research funding directly?

That's what the REFACE Foundation aims to do.

We're starting with the things I care about and hoping that someday we can expand to greater reaches on directly supporting specific scientific projects.

Research of the people, by the people, for the people.

I believe in science, I believe in medicine, and I hope you do too.

🩷, Justine.

Choose Science, Donate

If you believe in our mission, please consider contributing! All proceeeds fund materials and supplies used for experimentation, scientists and researchers working on our projects, educational materials for patients, and the dissemination of research as publications or presentations.

We don't have bureaucracy, we don't have employees. Our directors are volunteers as well as donors of the foundation.

Thank you!

REFACE Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible (EIN 39-4147089).

2108 N ST, STE N | Sacramento, CA 95816-5712

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