Understanding Craniofacial Microsomia: Visual Tools for Caregiver Education and Clinician Communication
Official title: Understanding Craniofacial Microsomia Together: A Visual Approach to Caregiver Education and Clinician Communication
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11463053 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project to create visual, easy-to-understand diagrams to help families and clinicians talk about craniofacial microsomia in children aged 0-11.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 21, 2026 |
| Project end | August 20, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $495,467 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DE035749-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11463053 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children with craniofacial microsomia (0-11 years old) and their caregivers, plus clinicians who treat them.
✕Less likely to help
Caregivers or clinicians uninterested in new communication tools or not involved in CFM care may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
Craniofacial microsomia is a birth condition that can affect facial development and function, making clear communication with families essential. This grant funds developing a visual tool that uses anatomy-friendly graphics to translate medical terms into understandable information for caregivers and clinicians. The team will gather input from caregivers and clinicians to design and test visualizations that bridge language gaps and improve shared decision-making. The work follows a stakeholder-centered, phased approach to produce an integrated prototype for use in clinical encounters.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families and clinicians could communicate more clearly, leading to better care planning and reduced anxiety.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that improved information exchange can positively impact outcomes, but this specific semantically augmented visual approach is novel in CFM.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pollack, Ari — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Pollack, Ari
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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.