I am part of the The Lifecourse Epidemiology and Population Oral Health Research programme which is a multi-disciplinary team led by Professor Andy Ness. Within this group I supported the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded programme (Cleft care UK) where we evaluated the impact of the centralisation of cleft services following the recommendations made by the Clinical Standards Advisory Group (CSAG) in 1998. The study repeated and extended the original CSAG survey by reviewing the treatment and outcomes of around 250 five-year old children born with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate. It also examined the characteristics of cleft teams, and the economic impact of the centralisation of cleft services.  Results of this study showed significant changes and improvements in overall cleft care in the UK since centralisation.

I am also leading the Scar Free Foundation birth cohort gene backed study known as the Cleft Collective. Cleft lip and palate is one of the most common birth anomalies in the world, little is known about the cause and despite modern surgical advances, thousands of children and families affected by cleft continue to face life-long psychological and social challenges.

The Cleft Collective is addressing the three most important questions that a parent of a cleft child may ask;

• What has caused my child’s cleft?
• Will my child be OK in later life?
• What are the best treatments for my child?

Up to 3,000 children and their families are being recruited to the Birth Cohort Study hosted by the University of Bristol.  The Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England will be working on the psychological issues associated with cleft lip and palate and the support needed by families and children.

Within a generation, we will know more about the causes of cleft, the impact of cleft on a child’s life and the best treatments, offering new hope for the many thousands of families affected by cleft each year throughout the world.

Qualifications 

Career Bio

Professor in Orthodontics and Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol.  Previously Head of Oral and Dental Sciences (now Bristol Dental School) for 7 years before taking on the Faculty leadership role.  Undergraduate training was in London (Kings College Hospital, The London Hospital and the Eastman Dental Institute).  Awarded an MRC Training Fellowship and after completing a PhD was MRC funded as a postdoctoral scientist in the Biochemistry Department, University of Cambridge.  Appointed to the University of Bristol as a Consultant Senior Lecturer in 1991, promoted to a Reader in 1997 and awarded a Personal Chair in 1999.  Main research interests are in cleft lip and palate and the delivery of cleft care by orthodontists.  Co-authored three books and over 200 peer reviewed publications.  His career total grant funding exceeds £5 million.