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Welcome to our Institute Newsletter, August 2025 edition.
Our aim is to provide people with completed research led by CPA, our colleagues and international highlights.
If you have any suggestions/feedback for this newsletter or questions for the researchers, please contact us here.
Telemedicine for Children With Cerebral Palsy Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Australian Cohort Study
Authors: Simon Paget, Sarah McIntyre, Amy von Huben, Kirsty Stewart, Tracey Williams, Emma Maly, Katrina Ford, Sue Woolfenden, Natasha Nassar
This study examined how telemedicine outpatient rates changed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic for a group of children with cerebral palsy attending children’s hospitals in Sydney. The papers authors included two members of CP Quest who contributed important understanding and interpretation of the results. The study found telemedicine rates increased during the early pandemic and declined since that time to close to pre-pandemic levels. Children with cerebral palsy living in regional and remote areas had a lower proportion of telemedicine outpatient visits than those living in cities. The authors suggest that further efforts will be required to realise the opportunities that telemedicine offers to improve access to health care. Find out more here.Â
High-risk infant follow-up: where are we and where to from here?
Authors: Stephanie M Boyd, Darazel Perez, Michelle Juarez, Nadia Badawi
This paper commented on the importance of following up infants who are at high risk of being diagnosed with a neurological condition, such as those born preterm. Early diagnosis combined with structured long term follow up is vital to help identify and connect families with appropriate therapy and support networks. This isn’t always available however, as families face barriers to multidisciplinary care because of factors such as where they live and their socioeconomic status. More consistent, family-centred, and accessible follow-up programs worldwide, with stronger use of early screening tools and better coordination across health systems are needed to improve outcomes for high risk infants. Find out more here.
Cord blood-derived cell therapies for preterm brain injury
Authors: Abdul Razak, Lindsay Zhou, Graham Jenkin, Rod W Hunt, Suzanne L Miller, Courtney A McDonald, Atul Malhotra
This review explored the evidence around umbilical cord blood (UCB) cell therapy as a treatment for preterm infants with a brain injury. UCB contains various types of cells with properties thought to be beneficial. Animal research that mimics a preterm brain injury frequently reports positive benefits when using UCB as a treatment. Comparatively, current early-stage research into preterm infants has confirmed that it is safe and viable to deliver UCB treatment. Well-designed studies are needed to explore the potential benefits of UCB treatment in preterm infants with a brain injury. Find out more here.Â
Early high risk of cerebral palsy classification is predictive of cerebral palsy at 2 years: an implementation cohort study
Authors: Amanda Kl Kwong, Abbey L Eeles, Peter J Anderson, Shankari Arunanthy, Nadia Badawi, Roslyn N Boyd, Kate Lc Cameron, Paul B Colditz, Cathryn Crowle, Russell Dale, Lex W Doyle, Joanne M George, Pieter J Koorts, Katherine J Lee, Carly R Luke, Lynda McNamara, Catherine Morgan, Iona Novak, Joy E Olsen, Nadia G Reid, Paul Scuffham, Koa Whittingham, Jeanie Ly Cheong, Alicia J Spittle
This study explored how accurate a high-risk classification of cerebral palsy (CP) is for infants at 2 years of age. 453 infants born extremely preterm born across eleven Australian neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) were involved. Trained clinicians classified infants as being high-risk of CP based on specialised assessments: neuroimaging scores, the General Movements Assessment at 3-4 months or the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination. Specific scores on at least 2 out of the 3 interventions were required. The study showed that trained clinicians can classify extremely preterm infants as being high-risk of CP with great accuracy at 2 years of age.
Cost-effectiveness of livelihood interventions for families of children with cerebral palsy in rural Bangladesh
Authors: Nuruzzaman Khan, Manik Chandra Das, Mahmudul Hassan Al Imam, Israt Jahan, Delwar Akbar, Mohammad Muhit, Nadia Badwai, Gulam Khandaker
This study explored the financial impact of various livelihood supports for extremely poor families of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in rural Bangladesh. These livelihood supports included chickens, sewing machines, ghee-making utensil, lambs and goats. The financial return for each livelihood support was shown to have its own advantages, disadvantages and keys to success. The results showed that providing lambs as a livelihood support led to the most effective and beneficial financial return for families, with ghee-making tools and goats close behind. Future support programs should consider lamb as a cost-effective livelihood support for improving the overall wellbeing of similar communities of extremely poor families with children with disabilities. Find out more here.
Epidemiology of cerebral palsy in Malawi
Authors: Thembi J Katangwe-Chirwa, Israt Jahan, Aaron Chitedze, Talumba Mankhokwe, Anderson Mughogho; Malawi Cerebral Palsy Register Group; Yamikani Chimalizeni, Macpherson Mallewa, Nadia Badawi, Gulam Khandaker
This study used data from the Malawi Cerebral Palsy Register (MCPR) to examine trends and causes of cerebral palsy in rural Malawi. Over 3 months, 911 children under 18 years old suspected of having CP were screened and their CP diagnosis was confirmed. Each child’s family was supported by a specialist team that collected the data. Families provided birth history and risk factor information, which was verified where possible. The results showed that in rural Malawi the main causes contributing to infants being born with CP are preventable. Improving key contributing factors such as maternal care, newborn support and environmental health factors, are essential to reducing these preventable causes and lowering the number of children developing CP and other neurological conditions in Malawi.
Research studies and clinical trials are a vital way to identify breakthroughs and advancements in the treatment and prevention of cerebral palsy.
