Johns Hopkins University: Center for Craniofacial Development & Disorders
The Smile Train has partnered with The Johns Hopkins University to
fund the following initiatives:
The Current and Basic Clinical Research in Craniofacial Development
and Disorders Symposium, which was held on December 7, 2000. It
was designed for medical professionals who wished to enlighten
themselves with the new results in the molecular biology and clinical
management of craniofacial development and placing those results
into clinical context.
Camp FACE, a weekend camp for adolescents aged 10-18 born with
cleft lip and palate. It was funded by The Smile Train from 2000
to 2003 and led by Jan Simpson, R.N. and Craig Vander Kolk, M.D.
Camp FACE offers teenagers with cleft lip and palate a safe environment
for self-esteem building, support, and camaraderie free of charge.
The training of a 5th year pediatric psychology doctoral student,
Lisa Hilley, who is working under Dr. Keith Slifer on research
about children and adolescents coping with oral clefts.
A diagnostic test for Treacher Collins syndrome, developed by
genetic research, is currently in the test design phase, and the
reference sequences for the TCOF1 gene have been identified.
A working prototype of a short computerized lecture on CD-ROM
focusing on the development of the palate. The target audience
will be professional caregivers and students.
Dr. Lewanda, a clinical educator, has written several clinical
articles for the Johns
Hopkins website focusing on the variety of oral clefting disorders.
Over 50 craniofacial websites were reviewed for content and categorized
according to the interests of families, physicians, and science
readers.
Genetic and environmental research of oral clefts has been conducted.
The research used an international collaborative study to test
specific candidate genes and their potential interaction with
environmental risk factors using families with oral clefts. The
collaborating institutions include Peking Union Medical College,
Beijing Stomatology Hospital, Beijing Plastic Surgery Hospital,
and Tiantan Stomatology Hospital.
A pilot project to develop technology was implemented to study
the genetic basis of cleft lip and palate. A nurse and phlebotomist
visited homes of families with cleft lip and palate to collect
blood samples and to provide DNA for the current studies. A study
of these DNAs to find candidate genes has now begun.
Dr. Ethylin Wang Jabs, Director
Children's Medical and Surgical Center, CMSC 10-04
600 North Wolfe St.
Baltimore, MD 21287-3914
Phone: 410-955-4160
Fax: 410-955-0484
