To prevent and cure cerebral palsy (CP)
To create a funding source of $50,000,000 by 2010 to build research sustainability
The Cerebral Palsy Foundation was established to take on the global challenge of finding the prevention and cure for cerebral palsy. This will be achieved by:
- funding research
- expanding a grants program
- encouraging researchers to adopt cerebral palsy as their area of study
- bringing together the best minds and research from around the world and sharing the information globally
- building partnerships
The answers will not be found overnight. The Cerebral Palsy Foundation has been established to ensure work continues until the answers are found.
In 2005 The Spastic Centre founded the Cerebral Palsy Foundation to realise its vision of a world without cerebral palsy.
The Cerebral Palsy Foundation has established a partnership with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC). Some Cerebral Palsy Foundation grants are matched by the NH&MRC ensuring the supported project receives double the funding, maximising chances of success.
Research priorities will be determined by the Delphi Study, an internationally accredited process using world-wide experts to identify optimal areas of research. These include:
- Genetics – Factors that predispose babies to injury and blood clotting
- Infection and inflammation - Infections that cause cerebral palsy
- Blood diseases - Blood clotting and stroke risk factors
- Injury timing and outcome - Causes in premature and full-term babies
Research will be supported anywhere in Australia and potentially anywhere in the world. The emphasis is on funding the best research regardless of where it being conducted. To date, research projects have been funded in all Australian states and Territories. Australian researchers are regarded as experts in this field world-wide with an excellent track-record of success.
