Cerebral Palsy Foundation

Homepage: http://www.cpfoundation.com.au/

The Cerebral Palsy Foundation is focused on finding the prevention and cure for cerebral palsy - the most common physical disability in childhood.

This will be achieved by:
•    funding research
•    expanding a grants program
•    encouraging researchers to adopt cerebral palsy as their area of study
•    bringing together the best minds and research from around the world and sharing the information globally
•    building partnerships

About Cerebral Palsy
•    Cerebral palsy (CP) is a permanent disability that affects movement
•    CP results from damage to the developing brain, usually before birth
•    In Australia, it is estimated the a child is born with CP every 18 hours
•    There is no known cure and, for most, the cause is unknown
•    People with CP may also have seizures, and sensory and intellectual impairments

The Spastic Centre founded the Cerebral Palsy Foundation to realise its vision of a world without cerebral palsy.

The Cerebral Palsy Foundation has established a partnership with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC). Some Cerebral Palsy Foundation grants are matched by the NH&MRC ensuring the supported project receives double the funding, maximising chances of success.

Research priorities will be determined by the Delphi Study, an internationally accredited process using world-wide experts to identify optimal areas of research. These include:
•    Genetics – Factors that predispose babies to injury and blood clotting
•    Infection and inflammation - Infections that cause cerebral palsy
•    Blood diseases - Blood clotting and stroke risk factors
•    Injury timing and outcome - Causes in premature and full-term babies

Research will be supported anywhere in Australia and potentially anywhere in the world. The emphasis is on funding the best research regardless of where it being conducted. To date, research projects have been funded in all Australian states and Territories. Australian researchers are regarded as experts in this field world-wide with an excellent track-record of success.