EUROCleftNet funded short visits and exchanges in Europe aimed at:
a. Improving the quality of care for children born with clefts
b. Prevention through further research on the genetic and environmental causes
All applicants had to demonstrate that their proposed exchange/short visit fell within the scope of the EUROCleftNet strategy:
Primary objective:
To increase the European capability for cutting edge research aimed at:
(a) improving the quality of care of infants born with cleft lip and palate and
(b) improving knowledge on risk factors (genetic and environmental) with a view to primary prevention.
Steps towards this objective:
- Development of a strategy for engaging European cleft teams and laboratories in ongoing and new European research collaborations initiative.
- Involvement of users in research design and development of outcomes measures for orofacial clefts.
- Encourage research initiatives that are aimed towards improving minimum standards of cleft care, universal access to care and equality of care.
- Development of a priority list of questions for patient-centred research in the field of orofacial clefts.
Strategic action points and priorities
- To create a Directory of Resources to facilitate research.
- To continue to promote the concept of collaboration between clinicians and geneticists in research (which underpinned the success of Eurocran).
- To initiate a portfolio of externally funded clinical and genetics research.
- To engage with a wide range of stakeholders (including beyond Europe) to ensure that this ESF is able to address orofacial clefting holistically and globally.
- To communicate and disseminate research findings through local, national and international networks
Peter A Mossey (Chairman, Steering Group)