Cerebral Palsy (CP) Research Projects

Current Research Projects

Click on the project images for further details on the research project.

ALPACAS: ALtering Persistent inflammation And outcomes in children at high risk of Cerebral pAlSy

This project aims to improve outcomes for all children and adults with CP by understanding multi-organ dysfunction and its impact across the life course. We will develop policy, advocacy and health services for children and adults with CP. PhD: Dr. Ailbhe Murphy. Funder: HRB. PI: Prof. Eleanor Molloy.

BLOSSOM - Brightening Lives: Occupational performance Supporting Skills and Opportunities for Meaningful participation

We will investigate neurodevelopmental and occupational performance outcomes in complex neonates and their families. Incorporating caregiver and clinician perspectives, it will explore the need for inclusive follow-up, early intervention and enhance understanding of infants’ participation and occupations in everyday life, from birth through the first year of life. PhD: Elaine McMahon. Funder: CP Foundation. PI: Prof. Eleanor Molloy.

THRIVE - Early Detection and Identification of Infants at High Risk of Cerebral Palsy at Children’ Health Ireland

The Early Detection and Identification (EDI) project at Children’s Health Ireland supports infants and their families identified at high risk of cerebral palsy (CP). Through standardised assessments, early intervention, and national follow-up clinics, it enables timely diagnosis, equitable access, and optimised developmental outcomes for children and families across Ireland. PhD: Elaine McMahon. Funder: CP Foundation. PI: Prof. Eleanor Molloy.

Our Group collaborates closely with The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT), at University College Cork (UCC), in the following projects:

ELEVATE - AIM High: Assessing Intellectual and Motor outcomes in High-Risk infants

AIMHigh will examine motor, cognitive and executive outcomes separately, using targeted cohorts. Current CP diagnosis is often delayed until age 2; need for early detection using EEG, neuro-specific biomarkers, and motor/cognitive assessment to provide robust diagnostic and prognostic information. Local PI: Prof. Eleanor Molloy. Funder: CP Foundation/Research Ireland.

ELEVATE - COOLPRIME: Comparative Effectiveness for Cooling Prospectively Infants with Mild Encephalopathy

COOLPRIME is an observational study that will observe the effects of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) vs normothermia (NT) in infants with mild hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Local PI: Prof. Eleanor Molloy. Funder: CP Foundation/Research Ireland.

We also collaborate closely with CP Connect, at TCD, in the following projects:

AIM CP (Achieving IMproved outcomes for children with Cerebral Palsy)

AIM CP is an interdisciplinary research project which seeks to achieve improved outcomes for children with cerebral palsy. It connects researchers from the Trinity Schools of Medicine, Engineering, Computer Science and Statistics and Psychology and the Central Remedial Clinic. There are five interrelated PhD projects: AIM CP Sleep, AIM CP Motion, AIM CP Childhood, AIM CP Model and the childhood cohort of ALPACAS. PI: Dr. Michelle Spirtos.

CP GenIE - Cerebral Palsy Genomics in Ireland

Investigates the genetic variants commonly found in children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Ireland. The research aims to improve our understanding of how genes influence the development of CP. As genomic knowledge continues to grow globally, insights from this work could inform how CP is defined and diagnosed, support better communication with families, and guide future therapeutic approaches. PI: Prof. Denise Mc Donald.

Previous Research Projects

Leading PI for the following projects is Prof. Eleanor Molloy.

CHAMPION: Childhood Followup of Multiple organ dysfunction after Neonatal encephalopathy (NE)