Youssef Kousa got into the field of medical research to make a difference in the lives of children with cleft palate. Thanks to his receiving of the prestigious Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health, he’ll get the chance to do just that.
“Someone's face is one of the most important parts of the body,” says Kousa. “It’s how you relate to people and how you express every emotion. When a defect affects that part of your body, to me it’s really important.”
Kousa received the $65,000 award for his research proposal that will study factors that lead to the development of cleft palate. These include both genetic and environmental factors. Kousa hopes to find ways to prevent or lower the instances of cleft palate in children around the world.
“The toll that it takes is pretty large,” Kousa says of the disease. “Surgeries often begin at three months, and because the face grows, you constantly have to go back. Six to 18 procedures are not uncommon depending on the severity of the disease.”
While the corrective surgeries can be traumatic, cleft palate is most serious for those living in countries where such options aren’t available.
“People with severe cases in developing counties often die,” says Kousa.
Kousa’s study will begin in April and continue for 21 months. He is a student of
MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine's D.O.-Ph.D. program, which is a dual-degree program to prepare students for careers in biomedical research or academic medicine.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.