Our research strategy focuses on three key areas: To better understand the likely causes of clefts; To find new and kinder treatments and surgery to repair the cleft; To improve the speech of children who have had cleft palate repairs. By funding research, we are seeking to provide answers to currently unanswered questions, such as: Can we identify which genes have a role in clefts? Why do so many cleft palate operations fail to produce a fully functional palate?

Through research, CLEFT has made many significant contributions, not just into why clefts happen but also, importantly, into how they are treated. Further insights and better understanding will be critical if surgeons, speech therapists and other medical professionals are to provide improved, long-term treatment and care for all people born with clefts.