The Cleft Collective Cohort Studies investigates the biological and environmental causes of cleft, the best treatments for cleft and the psychological impact of cleft on those affected and their families.

With the help of every cleft team in the UK, over 3,500 children and their families will be recruited into the study.

Families will be asked to contribute biological samples (such as saliva) and complete a number of questionnaires at important time points during their child’s development.

This information will be stored anonymously and will be analysed in the future to help answer the three key questions that families ask:

• What has caused my child’s cleft?
• What are the best treatments for my child?
• Will my child be OK (both now and in the longer term)?