Shonnelly Novintan

I am a junior doctor who graduated from Imperial College London in 2021 and am undertaking my plastics training in Chelmsford. My interest in cleft lip and palate began after my elective at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where I first saw the meticulous nature of cleft surgery. After getting involved with CLEFT, I was enlightened to the global humanitarian impact and this has spurred my passion to develop the Trainee Section alongside Will.

Latest

EDSA 'Miles for Smiles' 2024

Exciting news! The European Dental Association is teaming up with CLEFT for their 'Miles for Smiles' campaign this year.
Rona, Richard, Jon and Simon ride 100 miles

Join us in raising funds for the CLEFT: Bridging the Gap! CLEFT has 2 great aims: to support sustainable and multidisciplinary cleft care in lower and middle income countries (surgery is important but only part of the journey), and to support research into the causes and provision of cleft care in the UK.
Zhi's Dublin Marathon Fundraiser

I am raising money to provide long-term, sustainable ways to improve cleft care both in the UK and overseas.
Nick and Kathleen's Wedding Fundraiser

We are raising money to provide long-term, sustainable ways to improve cleft care both in the UK and overseas.

Izzy Snape

I am a psychology graduate, and Speech and Language Therapy Masters Student at University College London.
James Moore

I am Core Surgical trainee working in Swansea Bay University Health Board.
Bhavika Khera

I am a Plastic Surgery registrar training in the East Midlands deanery. I am passionate about cleft surgery, global health and education.
Will Raby-Smith

I’m currently working as a junior doctor completing my foundation programme at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge.
Joshua Kennedy

Academic Dental Foundation Trainee at the Newcastle University School of Dental Sciences
Matthew Gwyther

Matthew was born in the 60s and had his cleft repaired at Great Ormond Street, as did his oldest son born in the mid 90s.
Rona Slator, Chair of the Research Steering Committee

Retired, and living in the North Yorkshire countryside. Former Consultant Plastic and Cleft Surgeon at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the West Midlands Cleft Lip and Palate Centre.
David Sainsbury

I am delighted to be a Trustee of CLEFT and am very enthusiastic at the prospect of helping teams around the world to provide the best possible care for individuals with a cleft.
Tim Goodacre, Chair of the International Steering Committee
Bruce Richard

Consultant Cleft Surgeon (retired).

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Our philosophy

The two arms of CLEFT are brought together by our mission to bridge the gap in cleft care and knowledge both in the UK and around the world. Our international and research philosophies are at the very heart of our work.