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Cerebral Palsy Alliance proudly announces that Dr Madison Paton, a Senior Research Fellow specialising in cell therapies, has been awarded the prestigious 2024/2025 Fulbright Future Scholarship, funded by the Kinghorn Foundation.
Madison’s Fulbright scholarship will see her collaborating with experts at Duke University in North Carolina to further her research in improving access to cord blood therapies for cerebral palsy (CP).
The Fulbright extends beyond traditional research, offering a much-needed cultural and knowledge exchange between experts on the ground in the US and Australian scholars. This scholarship aligns perfectly with Madison’s dedication to progressing clinical trials and ensuring safe and effective treatments for individuals living with disabilities.
“My Fulbright aims to build a future where more effective treatment options can be available to children with CP. We are particularly interested in driving safe access to umbilical cord blood in Australia based on mounting research evidence,” said Madison. “We have a lot to learn from the brilliant research programs in the US.”
“Together with Duke University, we have designed an exchange that supports the future approval of umbilical cord blood treatment for CP via rigorous research, training, advocacy, and implementation. This Fulbright is a win for our Australian research community.”
Cerebral palsy, the most common physical disability in childhood, has limited treatment options. Madison’s vision is to help deliver the world’s first approved cell therapy through the US-Australian partnership.
The Fulbright Future Scholarship is awarded by the Australian-American Fulbright Commission to Australian citizens across all career stages. Recipients like Madison engage in academic and cultural exchanges, pursuing research or study at U.S. institutions and bringing back their knowledge and experience to share with their communities in Australia.
“A Fulbright award is more than a scholarship – it is a means of fostering leadership, learning, and empathy between cultures,” said a spokesperson from the Australian-American Fulbright Commission. “We are thrilled to support Madison’s research endeavours and look forward to the impact of her work on the global community.”
Madison’s achievement illustrates the commitment of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute to pushing the boundaries of research and innovation to create a world of opportunity for individuals with CP and similar disabilities and their families. Madison was also recently awarded the 2023 Rising Star Award by the Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research (ASSCR) for her excellence in research and leadership in the early stages of her career. More info
Madison is now the second Fulbright Scholar to be awarded from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute. Chair of Allied Health, Iona Novak, was also a recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship in 2013/2014 where she established an Australian/US consortium to drive stem cell research for CP (Xcellerate program) with Professor Donna Ferriero at the University of California, San Francisco. This achievement continues to position Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute as a leader in CP research and novel therapies.
