Funding outcome

Midfacial hypoplasia is the medical term used for children that have a shallow face, which is caused by insufficient growth of the midface and can be associated with breathing problems, predominantly during sleep. Children with these type of breathing problems often require surgery. However, the surgery is often not 100% successful in fixing the problem. We have developed a novel model using mice for midfacial hypoplasia assessment. These mice also develop breathing problems. Using this model, we can now study what factors lead to insufficient growth of the midface. Our study focuses on growth zones between bones, termed sutures. The sutures in these mice do not develop normally. We believe that this might also be the case in some children with midfacial hypoplasia. Sutures have been seldomly studied in the context of facial growth. Most attention is given to the nasal septum. If we can suggest that sutures are indeed important for midfacial growth, then this could change the way some of the affected children are managed clinically. This project is divided into two parts. The first part studies the fundamental biology of these sutures in the mouse model. The second part aims to translate findings from the mouse model to the diagnosis of children. A more precise, or differential, diagnosis will help clinicians to take better decisions as how to treat these children.