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Below are some of the ways we are recognising our research contributions to the incredible progress in cord blood therapy for cerebral palsy – including Australia’s first umbilical cord blood infusion for a child with cerebral palsy, supported by CPA earlier this year.
Dr Megan Finch-Edmondson and Dr Madison Paton from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute are among the featured speakers at the World Cord Blood Day 2025 international medical conference, hosted by the Save the Cord Foundation.
Joining global experts from leading research centres, Dr Finch-Edmondson and Dr Paton will discuss the growing body of evidence supporting cord blood as a potential therapy for cerebral palsy – highlighting CPA’s leadership in translating stem cell science into safe, clinically delivered treatments. Their participation reflects CPA’s commitment to international collaboration, knowledge-sharing and advancing therapies that could change the future of care for children with CP.
Visit www.WorldCordBloodDay.org to register free for the online conference.
In an Australian first, CPA’s Research Institute supported the delivery of umbilical cord blood therapy for a child with cerebral palsy under a compassionate access pathway in April 2025. Six-year-old Zara became the first child in Australia to receive an infusion of her own cord blood at Monash Children’s Hospital.
The treatment demonstrates that cell therapies can be safely delivered in an Australian hospital setting, offering a new avenue of treatment and hope for families.
Read more: CPA supports groundbreaking umbilical cord blood treatment for cerebral palsy →
Finch-Edmondson (Senior Research Fellow and Regeneration Program Lead at CPA) and their teamr of Research), Professor Iona Novak (Chair of Allied Health and Co-founder of CPA Research Institute), Professor Rod Hunt (Chair of CP Research Victoria), Dr Megan Finch-Edmondson (Senior Research Fellow and Regeneration Program Lead at CPA) and their team, chaired and presented their work at the Australasian Brain Club Conference.
They discussed CPA’s leadership in stem cell and umbilical cord blood science, from early research to clinical translation, and the future possibilities of cord blood in improving brain repair, function and quality of life for children with cerebral palsy.
“Umbilical cord blood for cerebral palsy is an evidence-backed treatment option that has been shown to be safe and improve movement skills for some children,” said Dr Megan Finch-Edmondson, Senior Research Fellow and Regeneration Program Lead at CPA.
“We are proud to support world-leading research that moves us closer to a future where people living with CP in Australia can access this form of therapy and have it delivered safely in an Australian hospital setting.”
Professor Iona Novak, Dr Finch-Edmondson, Dr Madison Paton, and their team are focused on building national and international capacity for stem cell research in cerebral palsy through securing funding, strengthening partnerships with researchers and medical organisations, advocating for consumer engagement, and identifying new pathways for clinical trials.
Through this transformative research, Cerebral Palsy Alliance continues to drive forward its mission of prevention, treatment and cure for cerebral palsy.
Learn more about World Cord Blood Day at worldcordbloodday.org and explore CPA’s ongoing research impact at cerebralpalsy.org.au/our-research.
