By Shelley Hadfield, Herald Sun

A world-first study is set to put The Royal Children’s Hospital ahead of the pack.

The hospital has embarked on a project to capture 1900 3D images of children’s heads. The aim of the Australian Headshapes Examination and Analysis Database (AHEAD) project is to determine what the normal head shape range is for children aged six months to 18 years.

Jigsaw Professor of Paediatric Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery Tony Penington said the hospital performed a lot of operations on children with head deformities.

“The idea of the surgery is to make them as normal as we can, so we need to know what normal is,” Prof Penington said.

The project will also help identify which parts of the skull grow faster, he said. “I think it’s going to be a really good foundation for future craniofacial surgery.”

The 3D images are produced using 21 cameras. Children like Boronia tot Declan Popovic, 10 months, will be among those to benefit from the project. Declan has had 3D imaging for a condition known as plagiocephaly, a misshapen head. In just three months, 24-hour helmet therapy has had a dramatic impact. He is expected to be able to soon discard the helmet.

The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) needs volunteers to take part in this study. If you, or your school, would like to participate, please contact the RCH on 9345 7087.

3D imaging at the RCH has been made possible thanks to the generosity of the Batten Foundation and William Angliss Charitable Fund.