Post by Radboudumc Research

𝐓𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡, 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 🐟 Most of us know what a cleft lip or palate looks like. But how does a cleft actually develop, and could we one day help prevent it? Cell biologist Hans Von den Hoff studies these questions using zebrafish. Their transparent embryos allow researchers to watch, step by step, how the cells that form the head and face move and develop. “𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦,” says Von den Hoff. His team also investigates how genetics and environmental factors, such as alcohol exposure, may interact during early development. At the same time, they are exploring ways to reduce scarring after cleft surgery, which could help improve speech later in life. A promising line of research, with potential relevance beyond cleft care alone. Read the full story on our website: https://lnkd.in/erJFDBjd Frank Wagener Juriaan Metz Willeke Daamen Schisis Nederland #CleftResearch #Zebrafish #DevelopmentalBiology #MedicalResearch #Radboudumc #PatientCare