|
March 2025
Welcome to CP-NET Today!
We're excited to keep you connected with all the latest events, updates, and breakthroughs happening within our community. From upcoming conferences to inspiring stories, research highlights, and opportunities to get involved, this is your go-to source for everything CP-NET. Keep reading to stay in the loop!
| | CP-NET Family Day 2024 Videos are out NOW! | | |
We are excited to share the video recordings from the 11th Annual CP-NET Science and Family Day Event.
You can watch them by clicking on the video thumbnails below!
| | Celebrating CP-NET Scientists! | | Dr. Darcy Fehlings Awarded the AACPDM Lifetime Achievement Award! | | |
We are thrilled to celebrate Dr. Darcy Fehlings, recipient of the AACPDM Lifetime Achievement Award! This honor recognizes Dr. Fehlings' incredible contributions to the field of medicine and her transformative impact on the lives of individuals with cerebral palsy and other childhood-onset disabilities.
Congratulations, Dr. Fehlings, on this well-deserved recognition!
| | | Dr. Elaine Biddiss Receives CIHR Grant! | | |
Dr. Elaine Biddiss has been awarded a $1.2 million dollar Canadian Institutes of Health Research Project Grant to investigate the trustworthiness of person-generated health data from markerless motion capture for personalized motor rehabilitation for young people with motor disabilities.
Dr. Biddiss and her research team, including co-principal investigators Dr. Donovan Cooper and Dr. Virginia Wright, aim to advance the inclusive design of digital health by assessing the accuracy of 2D and 3D camera motion capture.
| | | CP-NET Updates - New Website Coming Soon! | | |
Coming this Spring! Our team is working on a CP-NET website refresh, featuring photo contest submissions that showcase participation of individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) doing activities they enjoy most. The website refresh will also focus on improved navigation and content updates for all the latest information on our programs of research:
Across the Lifespan – CP-NET research focuses on individuals with (and at high probability) of CP and their families across the lifespan. We have research focused on babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers, children, youth and adults to better understand the course of CP across someone’s life.
Brain Connections – CP-NET wants to understand how different interventions work in the brain by using brain imaging tools. Understanding how the brain is impacted will help us to improve interventions.
Genes & Cells – Genetic research and CP rodent model research is another focus of CP-NET research. This type of research is the foundation for understanding cellular and genetic contributions to CP to guide future development of neural repair strategies (e.g., stem cells) and new drugs.
Interventions & Neurotechnologies – CP-NET develops and evaluates innovative technologies and interventions like virtual reality gaming, exercise-based gaming and robotics. Beyond new technology interventions, CP-NET also evaluates interventions focused on pain, participation, quality of life, and life transitions.
| | |
A recent study led by Dr. Steven Miller examined the associations between socioeconomic status and the structural and functional development of the hippocampus, and 18 months of cognition in very preterm neonates.
Read the full article here.
In this video, Dr. Miller shares the findings of the study, discussing the role of socioeconomic status as a possible modifier in this relationship.
| | | |
Want to learn how algorithms are shaping hands-on play experiences for young children, and explore the potential of mixed reality music applications? Watch this video where Dr. Biddiss breaks down the key findings and insights from the research!
Read the full article here.
| | | Participation in Research! | | Would you like to improve access to healthcare for children with Cerebral Palsy (CP)? Participate in our study! | | |
What is this study about?
Due to the difficulties families face in traveling for in-person care, hybrid care - a combination of in-person and virtual care - may be a beneficial solution. Healthcare providers need to identify which services can be provided effectively via video calls versus those that require in-person visits. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of remote hand/arm assessments for children with cerebral palsy (CP) by comparing results obtained in the clinic versus at home. Additionally, participants will wear a sensor wristband to monitor hand-arm activity during daily routines to determine if it is a comfortable and acceptable tool for tracking progress in home-based thera
Who Can Participate?
We are looking for kids who:
- Are between 6 and 17 years of age
- Have a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy
- Handles objects either alone or with help
- Has not had Botox or constraint therapy in the last 2 months, or upper extremity surgery in the last 6 months
- Have a caregiver willing to participate
- Have an appropriate device and internet access for video conferencing
| | |
What's Involved?
Week 1
1. Informed Consent Discussion (30-minute video call)
2. Pre-Study Survey Completion (30-minute online survey): Demographics information; Access to and use of health services; Checklist of household items
3. Study Onboarding (1-hour video call): Family will select 2 challenging activities of daily living for child to improve on. Use of inertial sensor wristbands will be demonstrated. Tips for the upcoming virtual sessions will be reviewed
Week 2
4. First Virtual Assessment (~1-hour video call) and a post- session satisfaction survey (~5 minutes).
5. Wearing the inertial sensor wristbands for ~6 hours/day on 3 days of the week during usual daily activities
Week 3
6. Re-test Virtual Assessment (~1 hour video call) and the post-session satisfaction survey (~5 minutes)
7. In-person Assessment (1.5 hours at Holland Bloorview, Grandview, or CHEO) 1 to 3 days following the 2nd virtual assessment
Week 4 (optional)
8. Interview (30-45 mins) to discuss the virtual assessment experience
| | |
Looking for more information? Please click here to see our flyer!
If you are interested in participating in this study, or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact:
Gloria Lee
glee@hollandbloorview.ca
(416) 425-6220 ext. 3342
| | Recent Publications by CP-NET Members! | | |
Clinical Actionability of Genetic Findings in Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sara Lewis, Maya Chopra, Julie Cohen, Jennifer Bain, Bhooma Aravamuthan, Jason Carmel, Michael Fahey, Reeval Segel, Richard Wintle, Michael Zech, Halie May, Nahla Haque, Darcy Fehlings, Siddharth Srivastava, Michael Kruer.
This review evaluates the clinical impact of genetic testing on cerebral palsy (CP) management, analyzing how frequently genetic diagnoses lead to changes in care. Among 1,841 individuals with CP who underwent exome sequencing, 27% had pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants, with 8% classified as actionable—prompting modifications in clinical management. The study identified 58 genes associated with actionable treatments, including disease-targeting therapies, prevention strategies, and symptom management. While most interventions demonstrated moderate-to-high efficacy, safety, and practicality, nearly half had limited supporting evidence. These findings highlight the potential of precision medicine in CP care while emphasizing the need for further research to strengthen the evidence base.
| | |
Cerebral palsy characteristics in term-born children with and without detectable perinatal risk factors: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Kai Suzuki, Nafisa Husein, Maryam Oskoui, Darcy Fehlings, Michael Shevel, Adam Kirton, Mary Dunbar; and members of the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Registry
This study examines differences between term-born children with cerebral palsy (CP) who have detectable perinatal risk factors and those who do not. Analyzing data from the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Registry, researchers found that 25% of term-born children with CP lacked identifiable neonatal risk factors. Compared to those with detectable risks, these children were more likely to have unilateral CP, focal MRI findings, less severe motor impairment, and greater verbal ability. These findings suggest that a significant subset of CP cases arise without clear perinatal risk factors, highlighting the need for further research into alternative causes and mechanisms of CP development.
| | |
Feasibility of a home-based home videogaming intervention with a family-centered approach for children with cerebral palsy: a randomized multiple baseline single-case experimental design
Authors: Daniela Chan-Víquez, Heilyn Fernández-Huertas, Carles Montserrat-Gonzalez, Ajmal Khan, Darcy Fehlings, Sarah Munce, Virginia Wright, Elaine Biddiss.
This study evaluates the feasibility and effectiveness of an 8-week home-based upper limb intervention using the movement-tracking videogame Bootle Blast for children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Costa Rica. Using a single-case experimental design, researchers assessed changes in daily living activities and motor function through various performance measures. Of the 15 participants, 13 completed the intervention, with 85% showing improvements in performance quality and 69% achieving clinically meaningful gains. The intervention proved feasible and engaging, highlighting Bootle Blast as a promising tool for improving access to upper limb rehabilitation in underserved communities.
| |
Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation
You are a member of the CP-NET Today electronic newsletter generated by the CP-NET Research Team. If you believe that you should not be a recipient, you may withdraw your consent to receive these messages at any time, in accordance with Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), by contacting the sender of this message, or by clicking on the 'SafeUnsubscribe' link at the bottom of this newsletter.
| | STAY CONNECTED WITH CP-NET! | | | | |
