Advancing CP in Queensland
Advancing Cerebral Palsy in Queensland
Investigators
Prof Roslyn Boyd (Project Leader, UQ), Prof Paul Colditz (UQ), Prof Stephen Rose (CSIRO), Dr Mohanraj Karunanithi (CSIRO), A/Prof Anthony Smith (UQ), Prof Paul Scuffham (Griffith University), Dr Priya Edwards (Children's Health Queensland), Prof Iona Novak (Cerebral Palsy Alliance), Dr Cathy Morgan (Cerebral Palsy Alliance), Prof Nadia Badawi (Cerebral Palsy Alliance), Dr Koa Whittingham (UQ), Prof Giovanni Cioni (The University of Pisa, Member of The General Movements Trust) and Dr Andrea Guzzetta (The University of Pisa, Member of The General Movements Trust).
Funding
Advance Queensland Innovation Partnerships Grant from the Queesland Government (Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation). $1,499,710 awarded over 3 years. Matched with $1,580,111 from partner organisations. Total $3,079,821 over 3 years.
Partners
The University of Queensland, CSIRO, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Griffith University, The University of Pisa, Children's Health Queensland, and Merchant Charitable Foundation via the Children's Hospital Foundation.
About the study
Launched by the The Honourable Leanne Enoch, Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business, on th 26th October 2016 at the Children's Health Research Centre, the Advancing Cerebral Palsy in Queensland Program is a partnership between the University of Queensland, the Australian e-Health Research Centre (AeHRC), Griffith University, and Cerebral Palsy Alliance. Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability in children (1 in 500 children) arising from a brain injury occurring before or around birth. The lifelong consequences inflict enormous personal and financial burden on both families and society - it is Australia’s 5th most expensive health condition. Despite the early brain injury, infants are frequently not diagnosed until 19 months-of age, even later for families in remote areas, delaying access to early interventions at a time of maximum neuro plasticity (brain remodelling capability). Advance CP will develop, test and implement new “toolboxes” of biological and clinical markers, for very early detection of CP in preterm and term-born infants. These innovative toolboxes will be translated into clinical products/technologies (e.g. smartphone APPs, Telemedicine). Clinicians from the state-wide QHealth network (end-users) have identified the critical need for an accessible early detection program enabling broad-reach and equitable access for Queensland families and fast-tracking of infants to early interventions. The program will evaluate the reduced costs and improved consequences for Queensland of earlier detection of CP and the fast-tracking to optimal interventions. Advance CP will establish Queensland as a world leader in early CP detection and intervention and will deliver profound economic and social impacts through increased access to intervention (Telehealth), reduced complications and costs due to delayed diagnosis (hip dislocations, surgeries), reduced parent stress and enhanced quality of life.
News
The Honourable Leanne Enoch, Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business will officially launch the Advancing Cerebral Palsy in Queensland Program on Tuesday 26th October 2016 at the Children's Health Research Centre.
Contact
Professor Roslyn Boyd, Ph: +61 7 3069 7372 or r.boyd@uq.edu.au