Cleft

Sulaimania's first multi-disciplinary cleft team

Sulaimania's troubled past means that there are many children and adults with untreated clefts or with clefts that have been operated on inadequately. Our new film by Paul Whittaker shows what the situation is there and how the team copes. Read more
Treating craniofacial clefts

Craniofacial clefts are large clefts that can affect the face, eyes, nose and mouth. Read more
MRI Speech Assessment

This important research looked at using MRI to assess whether further surgery could improve speech for people with repaired clefts. Read more
FOXF2 gene discovery

A genetic defect has been identified in a family from Egypt with a type of palate abnormality and speech disorder apparently not previously described. The FOXF2 research is one of the many projects currently funded by CLEFT, paid for with money raised by our donors and fundraisers. Read more

We aim to provide long-term, sustainable ways to bridge the gap in cleft care and knowledge in the UK and overseas

CLEFT's Expansion Plans

We are very excited to announce plans to expand both our research and overseas arms. CLEFT Chairman, Brian Sommerlad, explained on live Facebook stream what these changes will be.

Bangladesh cleft clinic seeing patients again

The pandemic has been hard on everyone, especially so when patients are unable to be seen. With Covid levels low enough, the cleft team in Bangladesh has been able to resume clinic.

Ibrahim's Story

Ibrahim was born with a craniofacial cleft and has a difficult journey ahead of him. Follow his journey here so far.

Our research vision

At CLEFT, our vision is of a future where clefts are preventable. Until we get there, we want to improve the lives of those born with cleft lip and palate.

Our impact

1 in 700	children are born with a cleft palate.
£40	the cost of a cleft operation on a baby in a low-income country.
£250	cost to give treatment over a lifetime.

Make a donation

Please select a donation amount (required)

£5

Can pay for 5 dental kits to provide patients and parents in Bangladesh with tools and education to improve dental hygiene.

£40

Can cover the cost of a cleft lip and palate operation in a low-income country by paying for essential anaesthetic and suture material.

£250

Can cover the lifetime cleft care needed for one child in Bangladesh, including operations, speech therapy and dentistry.

Other

Set up a regular payment Donate

Breakthroughs in cleft research

VPI Paper in Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal

The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal reviewed literature on palate re-repair for the treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) and cited the Sommerlad Protocol and Palate Repair technique of VPI as being very beneficial to patients with an 84% success rate. Read more
The genetics of cleft lip and palate

Investigations into the genetics of cleft lip and palate to understand more about why cleft lip and palate occurs. Read more
TBX22 Mouse Model

CLEFT has funded research into the investigation of a gene called the TBX22 that regulates important development events during normal palate function, in order to find new treatments. Read more
[email protected] now launched!

We are delighted that the website [email protected] is now available. Read more

Our impact

1 in 700

£40

£250

Make a donation

Breakthroughs in cleft research