Dynamic Brain Imaging of Cerebral Palsy Gait
Official title: Dynamic Imaging of Cerebral Palsy Gait
Funded at Father Flanagan's Boys' Home · NIH-11377566 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses advanced brain and spinal imaging to understand how cerebral palsy affects the way young people plan and control their leg movements during walking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Father Flanagan's Boys' Home NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boys Town, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $657,748 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD108205-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377566 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Youth and adults with cerebral palsy who experience gait challenges and can participate in brain and spinal imaging sessions.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without CP or those unable to participate in MEG/MRI procedures are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
We study how brain signals and spinal cord health relate to how youths with CP move their legs. By combining MEG brain imaging with high-resolution MRI, the team aims to map how movement planning and online corrections influence walking, and how these signals differ from typical development. The goal is to identify brain and spinal markers that could guide better, personalized therapies for CP. The research is designed to stay focused on real people with CP and their mobility challenges, not just laboratory models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to more targeted therapies that improve gait and mobility for people with CP.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests brain and spinal pathways influence CP gait, but this project seeks to clarify mechanisms with new imaging approaches.
Where this research is happening
-
Father Flanagan's Boys' Home
Boys Town, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kurz, Max J — Father Flanagan's Boys' Home
- Study coordinator: Kurz, Max J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Optimizing spinal stimulation levels to improve walking for children with cerebral palsy
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-
Understanding Movement in Cerebral Palsy
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-
Investigating how brain and spinal cord function affects walking in children with cerebral palsy
This study is looking at how the brain and spinal cord work together to help kids with cerebral palsy walk better, using safe imaging techniques to learn more about their movements and senses, so we can find better ways to support them.
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Measuring how kids with cerebral palsy adapt their walking
A study to understand how children with cerebral palsy learn and adjust walking, and how personalized feedback during walking might improve their mobility.
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Movement-Enhanced Walking Training to Improve Balance After Stroke
A specialized treadmill training using a cable-driven device, called Movement Amplification Environment (MAE), helps people with chronic stroke improve walking balance by enhancing their own movement awareness.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.