The Cerebral Palsy Alliance International Multidisciplinary Prevention and Cure Team for Cerebral Palsy (IMPACT for CP) hosted its 5th successful summit in Los Angeles in February 2016. This summit brought together 34 international experts from 7 countries working on understanding the causes, how to prevent, how best to treat and ultimately how to cure neonatal stroke.
Aims of the summit
- To write a protocol to test the safety of stem cells
- To develop a protocol for the effectiveness of erythropoietin after stroke
- To develop an evidenced based protocol for early identification and rehabilitation
- To develop an agreed imaging (brain scans) protocol
- Neonatologists and Paediatricians
- Physiotherapists and Occupational therapists
- Paediatric Neurologists
- Researchers
- Stem cell scientists
34 Attendees from 7 countries (Australia, US, Canada, Holland, Sweden, UK, Italy)
Outcomes
- One study commencing in Holland using Mesenchymal stem cells
- Possible parallel study which will allow two lots of safety data, combine the data
- Plan the next phase, informed by these trials, will need to be multicentre, multinational
- Plan a study using Neural Stem Cells – Establish network and obtain approval
- Position the field for translation into human trials
- Agreed study of erythropoietin in infants with confirmed stroke
- Planning grant to refine protocol before moving onto the next trial
- Agreed evidenced based protocol for early identification and rehabilitation
- Agreed imaging (brain scans) protocol