Research Funding with the Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation
The CPI Research Foundation has approved the research funding for four new pilot studies for cerebral palsy. They represent a $200,000 commitment in 2012 to cerebral palsy research and an anticipated additional $150,000 commitment in 2013.
The Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation CEO and President Glenn R. Tringali said,
“With these research studies taking place in Washington D.C., San Francisco, Calgary, Canada and Victoria , Australia, there is both geographic and scientific diversity represented among these exciting new projects. Whether the path of scientific discovery is domestically and/or internationally based, our aim is to fund the best cerebral palsy research projects in the world.”
The four new pilot studies include the following. The first is at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and focuses on the role of altered astrocyte development and function in white matter brain injury after chronic hypoxia. It will look into cerebral palsy causes and help with neurological morbidity associated with cerebral palsy in low birth weight infants.
The second study at the University of California SF will look at pre-partum risk factors associated with cerebral palsy types. The goal is to develop new strategies and approaches to prevent cerebral palsy.
The next study will be at the University of Calgary and will examine direct muscle stimulation training with BTXA injections. The final study at the Southern Health/Monash Medical Centre in Victoria, Australia will look at the association between cognition and upper limb bimanual performance in children who have hemiplegic cerebral palsy and to interpret these findings based on the severity and types of brain injuries found.
