The National Institutes of Health (NIH) are hosting a virtual public workshop on the state of cerebral palsy (CP) research starting next Wednesday, August 17 and August 18 that features three investigators from the CP Research Network. The meeting has been organized in response to Congressional requests to provide an update on the NIH Strategic Plan for Cerebral Palsy which was published in 2017 following two CP workshops held in 2014 and 2016. The organizers describe the purpose of the meeting as “to provide a forum for researchers, clinicians, and people with or affected by cerebral palsy to share updates on research progress and new opportunities since the publication of the Strategic Plan.” The CP Research Network encourages interested members of our community to register and join the online meeting.

The meeting is organized to follow the three priorities of the strategic plan starting with basic and translational research, and then clinical research and ending with workforce development. Drs Aravamuthan and Kruer, funded by NIH for their work in CP, will provide updates on their research progress on Day 1. Both are movement disorders neurologists with Dr. Aravamuthan specializing in dystonia in CP and Dr. Kruer on the genetic causes of CP. CP Research Network Chief Executive, Paul Gross, will speak on the use of CP Registries in research on Day 2. Each day will include between 40 and 80 minutes of discussion moderated by NIH staff. This meeting will include discussions of research progress and needs across the lifespan from neonatal development to adults with CP.