Dundee University professor leading European research into facial defects
ByNews reporter
Experts at Dundee University’s dental school are leading an effort to research disfiguring and potentially dangerous facial abnormalities.
Professor Peter Mossey, associate dean for research, has won a 450,000 grant from the European Science Foundation to look into birth defects including cleft palate and cleft lip.
These affect around one person in 700 worldwide, with Scotland having a particularly high rate of cleft palate.
There is a high mortality rate among affected children in poorer countries.
Sufferers can also require long-term support through plastic surgery, dentistry, speech and language therapy and counselling.
Professor Mossey said the grant would allow research to build on work that has yielded insights into genetic and environmental.
The project was launched in Strasbourg on Thursday.
Dundee University professor leading European research into facial defects