The Cerebral Palsy Research Network hired Joyce Trost, PT, PhD into the role of Registries Director. Dr. Trost has 32 years of clinical, research and administration experience with an expertise in gait and motion analysis serving as the Director of Research for 15 years at Gillette Children’s. She will be responsible for managing the growth, quality and research output of the CP Research Network’s two cerebral palsy registries. Our clinical registry captures data about patients seen at CP Research Network clinical sites and our community registry captures data about the lived experience with CP outside of a hospital setting. Dr. Trost started with the network on August 21, 2023.

“We are honored to have attracted such a talented and experienced CP researcher to our team,” said Paul Gross, President and CEO of the CP Research Network. “Dr. Trost brings a depth of additional skills to the role that we envisioned for our registries that will further strengthen our network.”

Dr. Trost began her career as a physical therapist and eventually went on to get a PhD in Rehabilitation Science. As the Director of Research at Gillette, she established, directed, and drove the strategy for Pain, Spine, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation, Neuroscience, Motion Analysis, and Health Services Research programs led by MD/PhD dyads. She developed a portfolio of funding that included industry, grant and philanthropy, cultivated relationships with many different collaborators, and prioritized scientific rigor and systematic data collection processes.
In conjunction with team members, helped design Gillette’s Center for Gait and Motion Analysis database, built Sponsored Project Administration, and revolutionized the organization’s research governance, compliance, and study start-up process while shaping the organization into a research leader in cerebral palsy and pediatric rare diseases.

A passion of hers is involving those with lived experience in the research process. Her interest in physical therapy and exercise’s impact on muscle was sparked as a pre-teen when she had a life altering figure skating accident. Her ongoing research interests are in early intervention and outcomes of exercise and interventions on muscle and function for those with cerebral palsy. In her personal life, she is married, the mom to 4 young adults, and spends free time working on their farm, fishing or out on bike trails with her family.