Families urged to join Sick Kids’ cleft research project

PARENTS of children with clefts have been invited to take part in a £15 million research project at the Sick Kids hospital.

Cleft is one of the most common congenital abnormalities in the world, affecting 1200 children born in the UK every year, but little is known about its causes and opinion is divided on treatment.

As part of a five-year study, DNA will be collected from children born with the condition and the programme will follow their development to adulthood. The Sick Kids is one of only 12 specialist centres in the UK which will be involved in the research.

Dr Felicity Mehendale, 
consultant cleft and plastic surgeon at the hospital, said: “We are proud that we are now not only providing some of the best cleft care in the world, but that we are also contributing to this world-leading research study.”

Families who want to take part should register their 
interest at www.cleftcollective.org.uk