Investigating how brain and spinal cord function affects walking in children with cerebral palsy
Official title: Dynamic Imaging of Cerebral Palsy Gait
Funded at Father Flanagan's Boys' Home · NIH-10909942 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $609,651 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD108205-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10909942 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children and adolescents diagnosed with cerebral palsy, particularly those experiencing mobility challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or those who are not within the age range of 12 to 20 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the neurological factors that influence walking in children with cerebral palsy (CP). By using advanced brain imaging techniques like magnetoencephalography (MEG) and high-resolution MRI, the study aims to identify how brain activity and spinal cord integrity affect leg movements and sensory processing. The goal is to fill knowledge gaps regarding the sensorimotor challenges faced by youth with CP, which could lead to improved treatment strategies. Participants will undergo non-invasive imaging to help researchers gather data on their motor actions and sensory integration.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective therapies that enhance mobility and quality of life for children with cerebral palsy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research using similar imaging techniques has shown promise in understanding motor function in neurological conditions, suggesting potential for success in this approach.
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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Dynamic Brain Imaging of Cerebral Palsy Gait
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.
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Optimizing spinal stimulation levels to improve walking for children with cerebral palsy
A non-invasive spinal cord stimulation approach is tested with gait training to help children with cerebral palsy walk more easily and with less stiffness.
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Understanding Movement in Cerebral Palsy
This project aims to better understand how brain and spinal cord changes affect walking and leg movements in young people and adults with cerebral palsy.
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Gait speed from wearable sensors to guide ALS trials
A patient-friendly look at using wearable sensors to measure how fast people with ALS walk, to help run better ALS trials.
-
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.