The challenges:
- 1 in 400 babies will be born with cerebral palsy
- The incidence of CP has not declined despite advances in medicine
- More premature babies are surviving—they have a higher risk of CP
- We do not understand many of the causes of CP, or how to cure it.
In particular, we need to know more about:
- why babies are born prematurely
- the part played by viruses
- the part played by genes
- whether we can reverse brain injury.
There is not enough research on CP globally and the research that is done is often not co-ordinated
In Australia over $500 million is spent annually on direct services for those with CP—but less than $1 million is spent on CP research.
- new research
The CP Foundation Grants Programme will fund priority areas
of research. These may be in epidemiology, or behavioural or
social sciences.
- a systematic, co-ordinated and prioritised global research plan
The CP Foundation will support events and initiatives that bring
together the best minds on cerebral palsy research.
- specialised research
Through grants targeting emerging researchers, the CP Foundation will help shape careers dedicated to CP research.
- the CP Register
The Spastic Centre launched the CP Register in 2004, to gather data
about CP in New South Wales: www.cpregister-aus.com.au
It is web-accessible. Families and their health providers can input data securely. This is part of a national initiative that has attracted international interest, since population data provides important research opportunities.
For more information call:
Marisa Chilcott, Manager Cerebral Palsy Foundation
Tel:
1300 55 11 37
Mobile: 0418 118 632
cpfadmin@tscnsw.org.au
The Spastic Centre
321 Mona Vale Rd, Terrey Hills, NSW 2084
PO Box 184, Brookvale, NSW 2100