Chin-To Fong, M.D.

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Dr. Fong's primary research interest is Genetics of orofacial clefts. Cleft lip and palate is a common birth defect that affects one in 700 children in the U. S. and around the world. Children with this birth defect face multiple challenges, such as feeding difficulty, hearing impairment, speech defects and many dental abnormalities. These problems, along with the cosmetic changes associated with the clefts, often result in life-long physical, educational and psychological handicaps. Caring of these children thus requires a team approach over long periods of time.

Cleft lip and palate is a familial trait, but the genetic factors that result in this abnormality have not been clearly identified. Recent calculations have led to the belief that as many as a couple dozen genetic factors may act together to cause cleft lip and palate, with a few of the factors being more important than the rest. Moreover, there is convincing evidence that environment factors, such as cigarette smoking by the pregnant mother, play a role in the development of cleft lip and palate in the fetus.

In these situations, the environmental and genetic factors act together to cause the birth defect. Therefore, cleft lip and palate is considered a multifactorial genetic disorder. The work in our laboratory is focused on finding the genetic factors for cleft lip and palate through linkage disequilibrium analyses. We believe that better treatment and prevention of cleft lip and palate will come from a better understanding of these genetic and environmental factors.

Specialty

Genetics

Current Appointments

• Associate Professor - Department of Pediatrics (SMD)
• Associate Professor - Department of Medical Humanities (SMD)
• Associate Professor - Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics (SMD)
• Associate Professor - Center for Pediatric Biomedical Research (SMD)