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

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability in childhood. It results from an early injury or abnormality of the motor pathways of the brain, causing permanent changes in motor development.

This project 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 by 4 months after birth/ideally by NICU discharge.

EXPECTED IMPACT: improve early CP diagnosis through validated biomarkers; enable early, personalised intervention and better outcomes: mobility, cognition, quality of life.

Funder

Cerebral Palsy Foundation, SFI

Research Team & Collaborators

Prof Eleanor Molloy (PI), Dr. Nicoleta Barbu (Research Fellow), Aoife Moran (Research Nurse), Dr. Sara Hope Kift (Clinical Specialist Neonatal Occupational Therapist).