Childhood Cerebral Palsy Integrated Neuroscience Discovery Network (CP-NET)

This project, called CP-NET, will connect children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and their families to a network of world-renowned researchers from across Ontario, and across scientific disciplines to improve the understanding of CP and accelerate the development of new treatments. This unique and transformative 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? Our goals include gathering information about children with hemiplegic CP and their families from across Ontario to explore why CP sometimes runs in families and what triggers of CP might occur during pregnancy and delivery that could be targeted for prevention strategies. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms will be studied, using animal models and clinical assessments of novel rehabilitation treatments to improve function. The ultimate goal is to improve the lives of children with hemiplegic CP and their families.