The Turnbull Government will provide $2 million in funding to the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation to prevent and better treat cerebral palsy.
The research will focus on four priority areas including the making of early diagnosis and treatment of cerebral palsy the standard of care in Australia, clinical trials of new interventions in high risk infants, a trial of TheraSuit® intensive therapy and new therapies to prevent cerebral palsy during pregnancy.
More than 40,000 Australians live with cerebral palsy and more than 600 babies are born with cerebral palsy in Australia each year. It is a condition that currently has no cure and it is the biggest cause of physical disability among children.
Children with the condition also often suffer from a range of associated conditions, including chronic pain, epilepsy, behavioural disorders and vision impairment.
Cerebral palsy imposes a severe physical and emotional burden on affected individuals, their families and the communities in which they live.
The Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation has been driving breakthroughs in the prevention, treatment and cure of cerebral palsy since its establishment in 2005.
They have seen a reduction in the incidence of cerebral palsy by 20 per cent and have introduced standardised tools for diagnosis of infants as young as 12 weeks.
The funding will be made available through the Government’s $20 billion investment in Medical Research Future Fund
It is my hope that further research and advancement in medical technology including genomics will change the lives of those with cerebral palsy. Many cases of cerebral palsy have been shown to have a genomics link.
The funding for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation builds on the May Budget when I announced the $500 million, ten-year Australian Genomics Health Futures Mission which will help more Australians live longer and receive better treatment tailored to their medical needs.
Children with cerebral palsy are learning to walk for the first time, thanks to a new intensive therapy. @georgiamain7 #7News pic.twitter.com/T7e4sieW5T
— 7 News Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) June 17, 2018