Cleft lip and palate - identifying the genes
| Location: | Molecular Genetics Unit and the Clinical Genetics and Fetal Medicine Unit at the Institute of Child Health in conjunction with the Maxillofacial and Dental Department, Hospital for Sick Children, London. |
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| Amount: | £118,048 |
| Status: | Research completed |
| Start Date: | 1st February 2000 |
| Finish Date: | 31st January 2003 |
| Grantholder: | Professor R M Winter, FRCP and Dr M Mars, PhD, FDS. |
| Research worker: | Ms N Prescott |
Cleft lip, with or without cleft palate, is one of the most common birth malformations. Children with these disorders may require multiple operations and a variety of treatments including speech therapy and orthodontics. As this condition is about thirty times more likely to occur in the brother or sister of an affected individual than in the general population, there is thought to be a genetic component to the problem. These researchers have contacted families in which several members have a cleft lip and they will now attempt to identify those genes which are shared by affected family members. By gathering this information, vital clues to the causes of cleft lip and palate could be unveiled, bringing the prevention of this distressing disorder a step closer.
Left: at three and six months baby Samuel had operations to repair a single cleft in his lip and a double gap in his palate. Right: Samuel fit and well celebrating his second birthday.
