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About CP-NET

The Cerebral Palsy Integrated Neuroscience Discovery Network (CP-NET) is an exciting initiative funded by the Ontario Brain Institute. The program is designed to improve our understanding of cerebral palsy (CP) and accelerate the development of new treatments. This unique opportunity will allow us to better understand the mysteries around CP including: What causes CP? Can we prevent it? How can we improve rehabilitation treatments for children with CP? This initiative will gather information about children with CP and their families from across Ontario. The ultimate goal is to improve the lives of people with CP and their families.

CP-NET is exploring the following areas: risk factors including genetic information, developmental and psychosocial outcomes, neuro-imaging findings (pictures of the brain), and technology innovation for individuals with CP. In addition, a group of CP-NET researchers are using animal models to research how different therapies such as constraint therapy and stem cell therapy work.

Presentation: Making Research Relevant to Families

CP-NET Vision Statement

To create a partnership program among researchers and stakeholders to transform the lives of individuals with/at risk for cerebral palsy (CP) and their families by accelerating the development of new neuroscience discoveries. 

CP-NET Overall Goals

  1. To build and strengthen collaborations amongst Ontario-based CP researchers, clinicians and stakeholders (including individuals with CP and their families) to drive a CP research agenda, awareness, advocacy for supporting policy change, knowledge translation activities, and National and International linkages.
  2. To innovate and evaluate interventions for individuals with CP.
  3. To investigate brain/neural mechanisms underlying interventions for CP.
  4. To establish a population-based clinical database/registry of children with CP and a CP youth cohort and utilize the Ontario databases to: 
    - gain new understanding of the risks/causes and patterns of neurological injury, health and developmental status in CP,
    - act as a springboard for establishing clinical trials for interventions, and
    - drive and enhance a wellness/biopsychosocial focus for CP services, care and interventions.
  5. To train and nurture highly qualified personnel (HQP) to create the next generation of researchers and clinicians focused on CP.