The CdLS World SAC and the World Federation created a new award for young researchers to identify early stage research and talented people working in the field that will help people with CdLS. The first of the awards was presented at the world conference at Brighton and the UK’s Penny Tunnicliffe was a winner and was presented with her certificate and a cheque by the SAC chairman Angelo Selicorni.

Penny Tunnicliffe received the research award and a cheque from SAC chairman Dr Angelo Selicorni.

“I was thrilled and rather shocked to receive one of the ‘Early Stage Researcher Awards’ at the conference,” Penny said “I’ve been part of the Birmingham University Research team for three years and throughout that time have been studying challenging behaviour in Cornelia de Lange, Cri du Chat and Angelman syndromes for my PhD. Sadly, I’ll be leaving the team soon to become a trainee Clinical Psychologist, but I’m sure you’ll still see me around the conferences.

“Before I go, I just want to say a big thank you to Chris Oliver and all of the research team at for giving me the opportunity to work with such wonderful individuals and their families. The research has been very successful and I look forward to keeping up to date with future research into CdLS.

“Importantly, on behalf of all of the Birmingham research team I wanted to say that it’s really the families that make our research possible. Without your help and continued interest and support, our research really wouldn’t exist so thank you! We are enormously grateful.”