Dr. Roberto Romero, Chief of the Perinatology Research Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Development and a former member of the CPI Research Foundation Scientific Advisory Council (SAC), describes the importance of vaginal progesterone in reducing pre-term birth and neonatal complications in a recent press release from the Detroit Medical Center. For full article please click on the link below.

http://www.biospace.com/News/detroit-medical-center-release-major-new/243915/source=MoreNews

 

 

 

 

Dr. Diane Damiano, Chief of Functional and Applied Biomechanics Section at the NIH Clinical Center, longstanding member of the CPI Research Foundation SAC and one of our former Hausman awardees, was part of an NIH study team that tested the effectiveness of an electrical stimulator device (WalkAide) on individuals with CP that have a form of lower leg paralysis known as “foot drop”.

Please click on the link below for the full article.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nih-study-shows-walkaide-device-by-hanger-orthopedic-group-significantly-improves-walking-ability-in-children-with-cerebral-palsy-2011-12-12

Although Dr. Citlali Lopez-Ortiz’s research study through Northwestern University’s Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago has not yet been completed, Sophia Jablonski, an eleven year old with cerebral palsy who is participating in the Joffrey Ballet’s annual production of “The Nutcracker” is certainly helping make the case for this innovative form of therapy.

 

Dr. Lopez-Ortiz, recipient of a two year, $100,000 research grant from CPIRF made possible through the generosity of the Hearst Foundation, has been studying the effectiveness of canonical movements of classical ballet with accompanying music to improve movement and postured control in children between 10-12 years of age with hemiplegic or diplegic cerebral palsy.

 

Please click on the link below to read the recent press release from the Chicago Sun Times describing Sophia’s great progress!

 

http://www.suntimes.com/technology/innovation/entertainment/9465153-646/girl-with-cerebral-palsy-gets-shot-at-joffrey-nutcracker.html

The CPI Research Foundation board of directors met on October 26, 2011 and approved research funding for four new pilot studies (see below for further description). The grants, which were peer reviewed and recommended for funding to the board of directors by the CPI Research Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Council, represent a $200,000 commitment in 2012 and an anticipated additional $150,000 commitment in 2013. “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” stated Glenn R. Tringali, CEO & President.

By gaining a better understanding of the role of altered astrocyte development and function in white matter brain injury after chronic hypoxia (HX), the study findings will help develop new cell-specific therapeutic approaches for brain injuries seen in premature infants with cerebral palsy and help to decrease neurological morbidity associated with cerebral palsy in very low birth weight infants (VLBW, <1500g).

By retrospectively comparing the data of 6 million California births during the years 1991 – 2001 with 8400 infants with CP within this birth cohort, this study will be among the first to focus primarily on pre-partum risk factors. The research is designed to uncover prenatal and pre-partum material characteristics important in the pathogenesis of CP, with the long term goal of developing new strategies and approaches to prevent CP.

Botulinum toxin type-A (BTXA) has been successfully used for treatment of cerebral palsy but has also demonstrated side effects that produce muscle atrophy, loss of strength, and loss of contractile material in target and non-target muscles. This study aims to examine if direct muscle stimulation training in conjunction with BTXA injections will reduce (possibly prevent) muscle atrophy, loss of strength and structural integrity in target and non-target muscles and vastly accelerate recovery of the target and non-target musculature to normal functional levels.

This study aims to describe the association between and among cognition and upper limb bimanual performance in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy and to interpret these findings in light of the type and severity of brain injury. The results will help clinicians better understand contributors to individual variations in motor performance, specifically upper limb bimanual performance, and will have implications for gaining a better understanding and treatment for motor and cognitive impairment.

Over 100 hundred people came out on Saturday, May 28, 2011 to remember and celebrate the life of Julianna Leigh Klein, netting $2430 for CPIRF’s research programs. This first annual Walk for Cerebral Palsy in Memory of Julianna was dedicated to the pretty 5 year old with cerebral palsy who passed away in October of 2008. Our deepest thanks are extended to Julianna’s mother Barbara Soucie, the Klein family, and the many sponsors, contributors and participants who made this such a special day and event. We are also indebted to Southington, CT Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr. and the Parent Teacher Organization which co-sponsored the event and for the support provided by the Southington High School Key Club.

The Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation (CPIRF) is pleased to announce the appointment of James A. Blackman, M.D., M.P.H. on August 1^st, 2011 as our new Medical Director. In conjunction with our Scientific Advisory Council (SAC), Dr. Blackman will be developing CPIRF’s research and educational strategies in addition to coordinating the research grant peer review process with the Scientific Review Committee (SRC). He will be working closely with leaders from within the scientific, governmental, and CP/disabilities communities to facilitate and enhance our domestic and global research and educational partnerships.

“The CPIRF Board of Directors and I are thrilled that Jim has agreed to join us as Medical Director of the Foundation. I am confident his passion for research and extensive experience will accelerate the pace of discovery for our research investments going forward” stated Glenn R. Tringali, CEO & President.

Dr. Blackman is Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics at the University of Virginia, where he served over twenty years, most recently as Head, Division of Developmental Pediatrics and Medical Director of the Kluge Children’s Rehabilitation Center. He is also past president of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. Among his research interests, he has received funding from the NIH to study the role of the Apolipoprotein E gene in cerebral palsy with collaborators from Australia and Norway. He received his MD degree at the Ohio State University, completed pediatrics residency at the University of Michigan and Fellowship in Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrics at Harvard University (Children’s Hospital, Boston).

In commenting upon his new role, Dr. Blackman stated, “To me, becoming the CPIRF Medical Director is the perfect culmination of over 30 years experience in education, research and, most importantly, clinical work with individuals with cerebral palsy and their families. I would like to use this experience to continue the outstanding work of the Foundation in promoting new knowledge into the causes, treatments and quality of life issues of cerebral palsy. However, an important aspect of my job is to explore new research directions for the Foundation in collaboration with national and international partners, the Board of Directors, UCP affiliates, and persons with cerebral palsy and their families. I welcome ideas and advice from any source and look forward to a very exciting and productive association with CPIRF.”

Dr. Blackman lives in Charlottesville, Virginia and is married to Susan Blackman, a former English teacher who currently works for the Ron Brown Scholars Foundation. Jim is also the proud father of two sons (one an asset manager in Austin and one an information technology specialist in San Diego) and one daughter (a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Philadelphia).