The Cerebral Palsy Research Network (CPRN) received five complete applications in response to its Request for Applications that it launched in June 2019 with its partner in research, CP NOW. The study proposals (requesting up to $30,000) address concerns prioritized by the Research CP initiative which set a patient-centered research agenda for Cerebral Palsy (CP). The studies have been designed to leverage key aspects of CPRN such as its patient powered or clinical registry or its access to patients through it 25 participating centers.

The five studies address diverse areas of inquiry including:

• predictors of social participation
• outcomes in young adults with CP who are ambulatory
• feasibility of adding body composition and strength to the CPRN registry
• the influence of balance on functional outcomes
• maximizing function and participation children who are non-ambulatory.

The RFA was open to non-CPRN investigators and includes two applications from external investigators. The applications will be reviewed and ranked by CPRN’s Scientific Review Subcommittee in October 2019 and the awardee(s) will be announced in November 2019.

CPRN appreciates CP NOW’s generous support for this inaugural funding opportunity for CPRN. We look forward to a continued partnership to address the Research CP agenda. CP NOW and CPRN are planning future community engagements to prioritize specific questions in CP research.