Natasha Lee

Hi! I'm Natasha, a dental student studying at Queens University. In my spare time, I enjoy making music, as well as playing sports such as tennis and polo! My interest in cleft conditions is driven by the opportunity to contribute to the transformative process that can empower individuals to lead healthier and happier lives after undergoing cleft lip and palate repair surgeries. The surgery can have such a profound impact on a person, not only helping to restore a persons smile aesthetically but also functionally! I also look forward to helping to raise general awareness about cleft lip and palate.

Latest

Alexandra Robinson

I am a foundation doctor who graduated from UCL medical school in 2023, I now work at Southport Hospital in the Merseyside and West Lancashire NHS trust.
Anna's Wild Water Swim Fundraiser

I am raising money to provide long-term, sustainable ways to improve cleft care both in the UK and overseas. Although you aren't taking the plunge with me, I would appreciate support through donations of any size! And with all of CLEFT's administrative costs covered until 2025, your donation really will be going to a good cause, funding an international or research project.
Catrina’s Yorkshire 3 Peaks for CLEFT

Catrina is taking part in the 3 Peaks challenge in July 2024 to raise funds for CLEFT. Support her fundraising here...
Celebrate CLEFT Summer BBQ Event

The sun is out at last so why not host a BBQ in aid of CLEFT this summer? Gather your friends, family, work colleagues and/or neighbours to celebrate summer, dust off the BBQ, have a burger and a drink in the garden whilst raising much needed funds for CLEFT.

Iihan Ali

Society Representative and medical student, Imperial College, London
Ameen Mahmood

Society Representative and medical student, Imperial College, London
Hannah Seo

Society Representative and medical student, Imperial College, London
Sathita Attharangsan

Society representative and medical student, Charles University, Prague
Haseebah Asharaf

Society Representative and medical student, Oxford University
Shreya Kantamneni

Lead Ambassador and medical student, University College London
Keiron Hakimnia

Society Representative and medical student, University College London
Kirthika Janaarthanan

Society Representative and medical student, University College London
Pavanraj Dosanjh

Society Representative and medical student, University College London
Madeline Dyer

Society Representative and dental student, University of Bristol

Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery

We are working with Bangladeshi specialists at the new Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery to create a sustainable centre to treat children with cleft lip and palate.
Our mission

CLEFT was established in 2007 with one aim, to help improve the lives of children born with cleft lip and palate, either by funding research into the likely causes of the condition or by helping support teams in lower and middle income countries.
Nawrin and the C-Arm

This important piece of equipment was supplied by CLEFT and is used to see moving images of the cleft palate. Nawrin is a 13 year old girl who was experiencing speech difficulties and needed the C-Arm to show the cleft team if further surgery was required.
Donate

You can make a one-off donation today or sign up to giving a regular monthly gift. All donations, small or large, will help us to improve the lives of those born with cleft lip and palate both now and in the future. 100% of your donation today will go towards funding an international or research project thanks to a charitable trust covering all our administrative costs until February 2025.
About us

CLEFT was established in 2007 by cleft surgeon Brian Sommerlad - based at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, together with a former patient and a patient's grandmother.
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.
Trusts and Foundations

Today, 1-in-700 babies in the UK are born with a cleft lip and palate, the most common form of birth defect. The impact on a child’s life as they grow is profound. Typically, they will need at least four operations. They may also require ongoing tests, treatment or therapy. It will affect the way they look but also their speech, hearing and dental development. It can leave deep psychological scars.
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.
Brian Sommerlad, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Chair of Trustees

For over 40 years, I have been involved in operating on babies, children and adults who have been born with cleft lip and/or palate.
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.