London, March 20 (IANS) In a novel study, Oxford scientists have developed a gel that may soon heal the misery of cleft palates in kids.

Although they can be corrected through surgery, those most severely affected can suffer problems with their speech and appearance for years to come.

According to researcher David Bucknall, the gel is 'significantly better than anything we can do now'.

The gel is similar to the one used in soft contact lenses. It slowly absorbs water, swelling to 10 times its original size, reports dailymail.co.uk.

The researchers plan to insert small discs of the gel under the skin, close to the cleft, which expand as they take in water from the body and new skin grows over them. The discs are removed after six or eight weeks and the fresh skin used to stitch up the cleft.

The researchers hope the technique could be in use by 2013.