News
Largest Ever Cleft Lip Research Programme Launched in UK
March 28, 2012 Nicola  |
The world’s largest research programme into the cause of cleft lips and palates has been launched at London’s Media Centre.
Called The Cleft Collective, the £11m research programme plans on creating a gene bank by collecting DNA from up to 5000 babies born with a cleft from this autumn.
It is a national project, being run at two Bristol universities and Liverpool University, with the clinical trials based at Manchester University.
Cleft lips and palates are a congenital abnormality that affects around 1200 children born in the UK every year. It occurs when the different parts of the face don’t conjoin in the face. As of yet, the exact cause remains unknown.
By analysing the babies’ DNA at birth and then following them through their childhood, researchers hope to ascertain not only whether genetic of environmental conditions are responsible for clefts occurring, but also how clefts should be treated. The programme will look at what surgery is the best, both functionally and cosmetically, as well as at the emotional repercussions.
Stewart, who was born with a cleft palate, had to undergo numerous operations up until he was 19. “I think if they can work towards preventing it occurring or work out how to minimise the chance then that is money really well spent,” he said.
Professor Jonathan Sandy, the lead researcher for the Bristol Gene Bank, believes that parents also need to be considered. “The birth of a cleft is a frightening time for mums,” he said. “The mother is particularly sensitive to a change in the body language of the midwife and knows when something is wrong.
“We are constantly asked three questions. Firstly, what has caused this? Secondly, how will the child get on in life? Thirdly, what is the best treatment? This study is trying to answer those questions.”
By Nicola Groves
[Image courtesy of LawPrieR]
