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Innovations in cleft research

Guest Editors

Mekonen Eshete Abebe MD, PhD, FCS (ECSA), FACS, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Magdalena Sycińska-Dziarnowska, DDS, PhD Orthodontist, Pomeranian Medical University, Poland
Liliana Szyszka-Sommerfeld, DMD, PhD, Pomeranian Medical University, Poland

BMC Oral Health has published this Collection on Innovations in cleft research, focusing on advancements in understanding and treating cleft lip and palate. This Collection gathers cutting-edge research spanning genetics, treatment modalities, psychosocial impact, speech development, craniofacial growth, and global health perspectives related to cleft conditions. 


New Content ItemThis Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing.

Meet the Guest Editors

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Mekonen Eshete Abebe MD, PhD, FCS (ECSA), FACS, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

Dr Mekonen Eshete Abebe originally trained in medicine and now serves as a consultant in general, plastic, and reconstructive surgery. He holds the position of Associate Professor of Surgery at Addis Ababa University Surgical Department. His extensive training includes multiple short- and medium-term programs at European and American universities. His PhD studies were conducted at Addis Ababa University Public School, focusing on birth defects, specifically cleft lip and palate. With over 15 years of experience in teaching, surgery, and research, he contributes significantly to the field. Additionally, he serves as a member of the IRB College of Health Sciences at AAU and holds the position of Vice Chair of the IRB Ethiopian Medical Association. He also works as a research consultant for Smile Train East Africa and is a member of the Research and Innovation Council of Smile Train.
 

Magdalena Sycińska-Dziarnowska, DDS, PhD Orthodontist, Pomeranian Medical University, Poland

Dr Magdalena Sycińska-Dziarnowska is an Orthodontist specialist and graduate of Warsaw Medical University in Poland. She works as an assistant at Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Poland. She defended her PhD in the field of cleft problems. Fueled by her passion, her main goals are to improve communication, help people with clefts access the most appropriate treatment options, and improve their overall quality of life. Dr Sycińska-Dziarnowska has co-authored several scientific papers on cleft disorders. She is currently attending a 1-year Certificate Program on conducting clinical trials at Harvard Medical School for Postgraduate Medical Education.

Liliana Szyszka-Sommerfeld, DMD, PhD, Pomeranian Medical University, Poland

Dr Liliana Szyszka-Sommerfeld has had research and teaching duties in the Department of Maxillofacial Orthopaedics and Orthodontics at the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Poland since 2008. Her main research interests include topics related to orthodontics, temporomandibular disorders, the use of surface electromyography in dentistry, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of patients with congenital facial abnormalities, including cleft lip and palate. Speaking to the nature of her work, Dr Szyszka-Sommerfeld was awarded the professional title of Doctor of Dental Medicine by the Faculty of Dentistry at the Pomeranian Medical Academy in 2008, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the field of dentistry by the Pomeranian Medical Academy in Szczecin in 2010, the specialist diploma in orthodontics in 2013, and, in 2019, the degree of Doctor of Science in the field of medicine and health science by the Pomeranian Medical University.

About the Collection

BMC Oral Health has published this Collection on Innovations in cleft research. Cleft lip and palate represent some of the most common congenital anomalies affecting facial structures, presenting unique challenges in terms of both diagnosis and treatment. This Collection gathers cutting-edge research that advances our understanding of cleft conditions, explores innovative interventions, and promotes best practices in cleft care.

We invited researchers to contribute innovative submissions on the various aspects of cleft research, addressing a wide range of topics including, but not limited to:

  • Genetics and etiology: research on genetic and environmental factors contributing to cleft lip and palate development, emphasizing underlying mechanisms
  • Treatment advancements: innovations in surgical, orthodontic, and multidisciplinary approaches to enhance outcomes for cleft patients
  • Psychosocial implications: investigations into quality of life, stigma reduction, and support interventions for individuals and families affected by clefts
  • Speech and language: studies on the impact of cleft palate on speech development and interventions for improved communication
  • Craniofacial growth: research on long-term craniofacial growth patterns and skeletal changes in cleft patients, influencing treatment strategies and outcomes
  • Global health perspectives: examination of challenges in accessing cleft care and innovative solutions for improving treatment outcomes, particularly in resource-limited settings

This Collection showcases the latest advancements in cleft research and foster collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders involved in cleft care. By highlighting innovative strategies and evidence-based practices, we aim to improve the lives of individuals born with cleft lip and palate worldwide.

This Collection is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing. Our goal is to contribute to the global effort to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, including individuals living with cleft conditions.

Image credit: © Thomas Talkner / peopleimages.com / Stock.adobe.com

  1. The developmental patterns of children with cleft lip and palate (CLP) can affect the therapeutic effects. However, a consensus has not been reached on whether the development of children with CLP is delayed o...

    Authors: Xiaoyi Wu, Wenying Kuang, Gufeng Liu, Xiao Liu, Shiyu Yuan, Luyi Zhang, Cui Huang and Wenjun Yuan
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2025 25:374
    Content type: Research Published on:

  2. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the development of a cleft-specific database for collecting and analyzing data on patients with cleft from birth to adulthood. However, such a database curre...

    Authors: Al Imran Shahrul, Nik Mukhriz Nik Mustapha, Mas Suryalis Ahmad, O. P. Kharbanda and Aida Nur Ashikin Abd Rahman
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2025 25:333
    Content type: Research Published on:

  3. Epidemiologic data on the number of cleft lip and/or palate (orofacial cleft (OFC)) births in Switzerland are currently sparse. However, this knowledge is essential for better understanding the etiologies unde...

    Authors: Joël Beyeler, Anic Lauener, Christos Katsaros, Giorgio C. La Scala and Martin Degen
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2025 25:114
    Content type: Research Published on:

  4. Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is one of the most common birth defects worldwide. It typically results in significant maxillary dysplasia, causing severe oral function problems and substantially affecting the pati...

    Authors: Panjun Pu, Shanying Bao, Jianbo Gao, Yuhua Jiao, Feiyu Wang, Huaxiang Zhao, Yuxia Hou and Yalin Zhan
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2024 24:1409
    Content type: Research Published on:

  5. This study evaluated maxillary growth and dental arch relationships at 5 and 10 years of age in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) who underwent early cleft lip and palate surgery.

    Authors: Magda Novakova, Alena Brysova, Jitka Vokurkova, Petr Marcian, Libor Borak and Olga Koskova
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2024 24:1316
    Content type: Research Published on:

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select Innovations in cleft research from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.