Cerebral Palsy

Why study cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability in children. More than 34,000 people in Ontario have CP.

It is caused by an injury to the developing brain that can occur in the womb, during the birth of the baby, or in the first couple of years after birth. The visible evidence of CP is the ‘motor disabilities’ – challenges in how a person develops and maintains control of their movement. Children with CP may also have other challenges, including seizures and problems with thinking, communicating, seeing, hearing and behaviour. The impacts on individuals and their families can be devastating.

CP-NET: The Childhood Cerebral Palsy Integrated Neuroscience Discovery Network

The Childhood Cerebral Palsy Integrated Neuroscience Discovery Network (CP-NET) aims to transform the lives of individuals with or at risk for cerebral palsy. This collaboration is allowing us to better understand the mysteries around CP including: the causes of CP, how we might be able to prevent it, and how we can improve rehabilitation treatments for children with CP.

CP-NET is exploring the following areas: risk factors including genetics, developmental and psychosocial outcomes, neuro-imaging findings (pictures of the brain), and technology innovation for individuals with CP. In addition, a group of CP-NET researchers are studying how different therapies, such as stem cell therapy, could make an impact in CP treatment.
visit CP-NET
CP-NET: The Childhood Cerebral Palsy Integrated Neuroscience Discovery Network

Play video

Discovering the Ability in Disability Through the Power of Words

For youth living with cerebral palsy, F-words don’t fill up the swear jar—they fill life with hope, positivity, and unlimited opportunity.

More than 34,000 people in Ontario live with cerebral palsy (CP). CP is the most common childhood-onset physical disability.

With a focus on knowledge translation and bringing care from lab to life, OBI is delivering on its commitment to improve quality of life for people living with brain disorders. OBI’s research program in cerebral palsy - The Childhood Cerebral Palsy Discovery Network (CP-NET) - partnered with CanChild to help develop and disseminate a new video resource for the community about the “F-words”.

OBI Public Talk - Pain in Children: What we don’t know can hurt them

Pain in children is misunderstood, under-diagnosed, and under-treated. This is even a bigger issue in children with disabilities. Our understanding of the negative impact pain can have on the developing brain has evolved, but there is a lack of change in pain management practices.

The OBI Public Talk focused on raising awareness and generating dialogue, the first-hand experience of navigating chronic pain throughout childhood, and how the research community is working to better translate their findings into tangible tools that families can employ to treat, and if possible, get ahead of pain.

watch full talk here

The Impact of Our Work

Discovering the Ability in Disability Through the Power of Words

For youth living with cerebral palsy, F-words don’t fill up the swear jar—they fill life with hope, positivity, and unlimited opportunity.

More than 34,000 people in Ontario live with cerebral palsy (CP). CP is the most common childhood-onset physical disability.

With a focus on knowledge translation and bringing care from lab to life, OBI is delivering on its commitment to improve quality of life for people living with brain disorders. OBI’s research program in cerebral palsy - The Childhood Cerebral Palsy Discovery Network (CP-NET) - partnered with CanChild to help develop and disseminate a new video resource for the community about the “F-words”.