LEAP: Improving Cleft Care for Children Worldwide
Official title: Leveraging Advances in Practices and Outcomes in Cleft Care: The LEAP Study
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11394035 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A global, collaborative effort to speed up and improve the care children born with cleft lip and palate receive, with a focus on the first 10 years of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,222,744 |
| NIH project number | 5RM1DE035304-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394035 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with cleft lip and/or palate in the first 10 years of life, their families, and care teams.
✕Less likely to help
If a child’s care is not coordinated with participating centers or if resources are limited in a given setting, benefits may be slower to realize.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a learning health system for cleft care by bringing together centers from high- and low-resource settings, patients, families, providers, and advocacy groups. It emphasizes translating evidence-based practices into real-world care quickly and equitably. The study will collect key feedback on nutrition, psychosocial risks, and other essential aspects of cleft management to guide better care during early childhood.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Children with cleft lip/palate could receive more consistent, evidence-driven care and better support for nutrition and psychosocial needs.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that learning health systems can improve care delivery when stakeholders are engaged and data are rapidly translated into practice.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heike, Carrie Lyn — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Heike, Carrie Lyn
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.