research grants program - 2007

The CP Institute has great pleasure in announcing the recipients of the 2007 Research Grant Program. The program, funded by the CP Foundation, is designed to stimulate cerebral palsy research in the epidemiological, behavioural and social sciences. 

Innovative Research Grants

Professor Enrico Coiera - $120,000 over three years
Centre for Health Informatics, University of NSW

Accelerating our understanding of the causal pathways to Cerebral Palsy with a computer supported discovery system.

While little is known about CP aetiology, there are many unconnected islands of related research which may contain clues to CP prevention and for which results are well documented in the scientific literature. This study will develop software tools that search the published scientific literature and assist in exploring and partially answering aetiology questions posed by cerebral palsy researchers. The researchers will develop computational methods which will perform the automatic extraction and synthesis of aetiological knowledge across multiple documents that potentially address the aetiology or prevention of conditions related to CP.


Sarah Love - $25,000 over one year
Princess Margaret Hospital, Perth

Towards a better description of cerebral palsy: An Australia wide training program

It has always been a challenge to classify the cerebral palsies. The classical terms have proved problematic as the existing definitions are variable and imprecise. The aim of this project is to disseminate knowledge and skill in the use of a new tool (the ASAS) and the limb by limb recording format [the Australian Cerebral Palsy Register (ACPR) description form] which together can easily and accurately be used to describe the cerebral palsies (CP). This aim will be met by:
developing a training package including, but not limited to, a training DVD
delivering face to face train – the –trainer sessions Australia wide
The quest to find the causes and prevention of cerebral palsy has been thwarted by inaccurate sub-classifications. It is hoped that this project will rectify this long standing problem.


Professor Alastair MacLennan - $115,000 over two years
The University of Adelaide; Women's & Children's Hospital North Adelaide

A genomic basis for cerebral palsy - studies on a large Australian cohort

Our previous research has shown that exposure to viral infection is common in newborn babies in South Australia, especially in preterm babies. The risk of cerebral palsy is nearly doubled with exposure to Herpes PCR group B viruses, but may require other factors, such as genetic susceptibility to infection and inherited thrombophilia or involvement of other clinical events such as growth restriction or or prematurity for brain damage and subsequent cerebral palsy to occur. This study will continue this work by testing newborn screening cards for exposure to viral infection and linking with genomic, pregnancy and neonatal information. The results will provide us with more information about the antenatal causes of cerebral palsy.


Associate Professor Eve Blair - $80,000 over two years
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Western Australia

Analysis of case-control study of CP in term and preterm infants in Western Australia, 1980-1995
- This research aims to identify causal pathways to CP that may lead to prevention. Maternal, antenatal and perinatal data will be compared of children with CP, children without CP and children who died. This is the largest trial of its kind in the world.


Trust Researcher Grant: Dr Catherine Gibson - $40,000 over two years
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology University of Adelaide, South Australia
Investigating antenatal causes of cerebral palsy

- This research will analyse umbilical cord serum of babies with and without cerebral palsy. Results will help determine the role of viral and bacterial infections and cerebral palsy. If associations are found, this could lead to the prevention of CP in some babies through a vaccination program.

Allergan Doctoral Research Grant

Margaret Wallen - $100,000 over three years
The Children’s Hospital Westmead, NSW

Modified constraint-induced therapy for children with cerebral palsy: A randomised trial
- This research will compare two occupational therapy interventions for children with hemiplegic CP to identify which intervention improves the function of a child’s arm and hand the most.


NHMRC Co-funded doctoral scholarships

Henry H Roth Foundation Scholarship: Liora Ballin $27,000
University of Sydney

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Training with experienced AAC users as volunteer AAC therapy aides

Some people with cerebral palsy use speech generating augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices to communicate, as they are unable to use speech as their primary communication mode. However, learning to use an AAC device competently may take up to two years. Experienced AAC users may be well placed to train people who are learning to use AAC. This doctoral research will identify important aspects of an AAC training program; observe clinical sessions; develop and implement a training program for experienced AAC users to be volunteer therapy aides; develop and implement AAC training with new users paired with experienced users.


Sundell Foundation Research Grant: Abbey Eeles $27,000
University of Melbourne

Sensory outcomes and profiles over the first two years for infants born less than 30 weeks' gestation

The sensory experiences preterm infants encounter early in life lay the foundations for future neurodevelopment. Whilst the literature suggests that sensory experiences have an impact on development little is known about the development of sensory functioning in early childhood or the extent to which sensory profiles/outcomes affect the neurobehavioural outcomes of this vulnerable population. This doctoral research aims to examine this relationship and provide direction for future practices.