Physiologic marker to predict cerebral palsy early in high-risk babies
Official title: Physiomarker for early, equitable cerebral palsy prediction
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11397264 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to create an early, easy screen using NICU vital signs to flag infants at higher risk for cerebral palsy so families can get timely follow-up.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | August 11, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $615,486 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD119199-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397264 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Premature infants and other NICU patients who are at high risk for cerebral palsy and are receiving continuous vital-sign monitoring.
✕Less likely to help
Infants without CP risk markers or those not in NICU care may not benefit from this screening approach.
What this research studies
This project will analyze continuous NICU heart-rate and other vital-sign data from premature infants to identify early physiologic patterns that signal risk for cerebral palsy. Using advanced time-series analysis and the FAIRSCAPE platform for sharing data, researchers hope to develop a practical biomarker that can be applied across NICUs. If successful, the tool would help clinicians refer babies sooner for CP-specific evaluations and therapies, improving developmental outcomes. The work involves collaboration across data science and pediatric neurology teams and will rely on high- and low-resolution waveform data.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the physiomarker could enable earlier detection and intervention for cerebral palsy, potentially improving development and quality of life for affected children.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary observations suggest distinct NICU heart-rate patterns in infants who later develop CP, indicating potential for a predictive biomarker.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Letzkus, Lisa — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Letzkus, Lisa
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
Precise measure of how CP affects movement to guide treatment
Aims to create precise, child-friendly ways to measure selective motor control in cerebral palsy so treatment can be tailored to each child.
-
Non-invasive spinal stimulation to help kids with cerebral palsy move and reduce stiffness
This study tests a non-invasive spinal stimulation plus treadmill training to reduce spasticity and improve walking in children with cerebral palsy.
-
Post-surgical foot deformities in adults with cerebral palsy: understanding long-term function
This research looks at how hindfoot problems in adults with cerebral palsy behave over time after childhood surgeries and what factors influence their lasting function.
-
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.
-
Understanding how spinal development is affected in cerebral palsy and finding ways to ease spasticity
Researchers are studying why spastic cerebral palsy causes tight muscles and reflexes and are testing a noninvasive treatment to help reduce these symptoms.
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.