| Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome Educational Foundation, Inc Robert J. Shprintzen, Ph.D. Executive Director |
Welcome to the Official Web Site of the Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome
(VCFS) Educational Foundation, Inc. The Foundation is an international not-for-profit,
self-help organization dedicated to providing support and information to
individuals who are affected by Velo-Cardio-Facial syndrome, their families,
physicians and other practitioners. The Foundation is independent of
— and not affiliated with — any particular institution.
VCFS — also known as the Shprintzen Syndrome, DiGeorge Sequence and,
regrettably, Catch 22 — is caused by the deletion of a small segment of
the long arm of chromosome 22 (specified as 22q11.2 deletion), and is one
of the most common genetic disorders in humans. Velo-Cardio-Facial
syndrome is characterized by cleft palate, heart abnormalities, learning
disabilities, and over 180 other clinical findings. Please see the VCFS Fact Sheet for details ( requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.)
The VCFS Educational Foundation, Inc. is committed to educating the lay and
professional public by:
- offering family programs
- facilitating parent-to-parent
networking - distributing educational materials concerning Velo-Cardio-Facial syndrome
- publishing a periodic information newsletter
- hosting an annual conference for laymen and professionals
Please choose from our menu (left column) for more information regarding velo-cardio-facial syndrome, including membership in the Foundation. If you have further questions, please contact The Foundation via telephone at (315) 464-6590; via fax at (315) 464-6593, or via email at [email protected]. If you choose, you may also contact the Executive Director, Dr. Robert J. Shprintzen, directly via email at: [email protected].