News update:
- Bucharest cleft conference
- Invitation to apply for EUROCleftNet short visit grants
EUROCleftNet is delighted to report the success of an international cleft workshop in Bucharest, Romania, 31 March – 2 April 2014 focusing on improving surgical outcomes by comparing European protocols and featuring ‘live view’ surgical sessions. The event, Challenges in the treatment of cleft lip and palate, has been organized by surgeon Radu Spataru, cleft surgeon at the Maria Sklodowska Curie
paediatric hospital in Bucharest, who has invited colleagues from around Europe, many of whom he has remained in contact with after the Bulgaria cleft conference in Plovdiv in September 2013, Completing the circle. The Bucharest conference includes representatives from cleft teams in Bulgaria, Ukraine, Latvia and Sweden as well as cleft team members from all over Romania.
Speaking at the event EUROCleftNet steering group member and ECO director Gareth Davies emphasized the importance of European collaboration in cleft care and research and highlighted the development of a European cleft guideline in early cleft care which EUROCleftNet members have contributed to. He also called on those present to ensure their countries are fully represented on the European Cleft Gateway website and encouraged the development of regional networks for sharing and exchange of skills and information. In this context he promoted the EUROCleftNet short visit and exchange programme which is open to researchers involved in cleft care and prevention. Funding for this is available only for a limited period and he urged delegates to consider potential applications at the earliest opportunity. Details are set out below.
A follow-up cleft conference is being organized by cleft surgeon, Calin Popoiu from Timisoara, Romania, in November 2014 and there are plans to invite representatives from neighbouring Balkan countries as well as those from further afield. Gareth Davies has been asked to assist the in promoting the conference. In a separate development Mr. Davies has been invited to Lithuania in May 2014 to discuss possible ways of supporting cleft care and treatment in the country.
Priority will be given to members of cleft centres registered on the European Cleft Gateway http://www.gateway.ecoonline.org
Details available from gareth@ecoonline.org