Scientist:
Research Projects: The International Study on Oral Clefts
We are in the process of developing an international collaboration
to study the genetic epidemiology of oral clefts. Building on our
own studies of genetic and environmental factors contributing to
risk for isolated, non-syndromic oral clefts, we are now collaborating
with a variety of Asian collaborators to develop a collaborative
study of oral clefts in the US and several Asian centers. Our goal
would be to recruit children born with an isolated, non-syndromic
oral cleft and their family members, collecting interview data,
family history information and DNA samples so we can test a number
of genes that are thought to increase the risk of developing an
oral cleft. In particular, since both genes and environmental exposures
are known to be associated with risk of oral clefts, we are interested
in testing genetic risk factors (genetic markers) in several genetically
distinct populations to confirm any observed increased risk, while
also considering the impact of common environmental risk factors.
Environmental risk factors for oral clefts, include maternal smoking
and alcohol consumption, and these may well act differently in people
with different genotypes.
We have held two organizational meetings funded by an NIH R21 DE
13707 planning grant from the National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial
Research (NIDCR) to pull together this diverse group of scientists
and clinicians.
The Principal Investigator is Terri H. Beaty, Ph.D. Other investigators
involved in this project are: Ethylin Wang Jabs, M.D., Craig A.
Vander Kolk, M.D., Iain McIntosh, Ph.D., Kung Yee Liang, Ph.D.,
M. Daniele Fallin, Ph.D., Samuel S. Chong, Ph.D.
The Asian centers involved in this developing collaboration include:
Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, Peoples' Republic of China
(Dr. Shangzhi Huang, PI); Institute of Reproductive & Child Health
at Peking University (Dr. Hong Wang, PI); National University of
Singapore (Dr. Samuel Chong, PI); KK Women's & Children Hospital
of Singapore (Dr. Ivy Ng, PI); Chang Gung Memorial Hospital of Taipei,
Taiwan (Dr. Yah Huei Wu-Chou, PI); and the Department of Health
of Hong Kong (Dr. Stephen Tak Sum Lam, PI).
Last Updated:
6/28/02
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