Cleft lip research launched in UK

The world's largest research databank for cleft lip and palate is being set up in the UK to determine what causes these common conditions.

These congenital abnormalities affect 1,200 babies born in the UK each year, yet why they occur is unknown.

Parents of babies with these conditions are being encouraged to enrol in the £11m, five-year programme.

The Cleft Collective team will gather and analyse the DNA of these children to see if they can pin down a cause.

And by following these 3,000 or more children throughout their childhood, the researchers hope to ascertain what the best course of treatment is, including which surgery offers the best cosmetic and functional results.

A cleft occurs when separate areas of the face do not join together properly when a baby is developing in the womb.         More Read