PIRF will award Diane Damiano, PT, PhD with the 2009 Weinstein-Goldenson Award at the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine 63rd annual meeting on Friday, August 24th at the Celebration Dinner in Phoenix, AZ. The Weinstein-Goldenson Award is presented by CPIRF annually to a clinician-scientist for outstanding contributions in medical research which enhance the lives of persons with cerebral palsy and their families.

Dr. Diane Damiano

Dr. Damiano is currently the Director of Biomechanics at the NIH Clinical Center in Washington DC where she conducts research to investigate the neural and biomechanical mechanisms that underlie the motor disorder that is the hallmark of cerebral palsy and to identify and evaluate potential interventions to improve motor performance in individuals with CP. Dr. Damiano’s particular interest is in the effects of exercise on functional abilities and participation in those with CP. Regular and intense physical activity is an especially important concern for those with motor disabilities such as CP because they are at higher risk for activity limitation, face greater challenges in trying to stay active, and may suffer more devastating consequences over the lifespan if they are not active. Dr. Damiano, has been awarded numerous grants from the NIH for her research and has authored numerous papers and book chapters. She is asked to speak all over the world on her work as she was the first researcher to recognize that spastic muscles were, in fact, weak and needed strengthening. Dr. Damiano is a former Hausman Awardee, the career award given by CPIRF to support clinician-researchers while they pursue research in an area relevant to cerebral palsy while continuing to spend time providing hands-on clinical care to the developmentally disabled.