United Cerebral Palsy will distribute $60,000 among three research projects, even as the United States has no coordinated federal research program for cerebral palsy, the organization said September 30, 2026. Each awardee will receive $20,000. The grants will support research into disability-inclusive healthcare education, a possible therapy for newborns at risk of cerebral palsy, and delays in providing early intervention to children identified as high risk.
Cerebral palsy affects about 1 in 345 children in the United States, according to the announcement. More than 1 million Americans and their families live with the condition. UCP said the projects address questions that remain underfunded and underexplored.
Three projects, three points of care
The project “Changing Perspectives: Preparing Healthcare Professionals to Provide Inclusive Care for Individuals with Disabilities” will examine whether experiential training improves future healthcare professionals’ ability to provide accessible, person-centered care. Principal Investigator Elizabeth Stewart, Ph.D., ATP, of United Ability in Birmingham, Alabama, will study training that brings professionals into direct contact with people with disabilities and caregivers, and gives them hands-on experience with assistive technology. The study aims to improve providers’ confidence, communication skills and understanding of disability-inclusive healthcare.
Principal Investigator Rafael Galindo, MD, PhD, of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, will lead research into whether stimulating the brain-body axis through the vagus nerve can reduce inflammation and brain injury in newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE. Insufficient oxygen and blood flow around the time of birth cause the condition, a leading cause of cerebral palsy. The project will use a neonatal mouse model to assess whether the approach could inform therapies for infants at risk.
A third project will link hospital records with early intervention data to identify delays between recognizing cerebral palsy risk and starting treatment. Principal Investigator Jessica Trenkle, PT, DPT, PCS, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, will lead the work. According to the announcement, many infants identified as high risk don’t promptly receive early intervention services after leaving the NICU, despite the opportunity to treat them during a critical period of brain development. Researchers plan to develop scalable and equitable strategies to help children receive therapy as early as possible.
Grant funding fills a documented gap
Since the program launched in 2022, UCP has funded 16 research projects and committed $284,000 to research and innovation in cerebral palsy and related neurodevelopmental disabilities. Five grants have gone to UCP Affiliates. The announcement describes UCP’s grants as research support, while stating that the United States has no coordinated federal research program for the condition.
Valerie Pieraccini, co-chair of UCP’s Research Council and vice president of education and innovation at the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, said important questions remain underfunded and underexplored despite the number of people and families affected. “UCP’s Research Grant Program creates an opportunity to support innovative research that might otherwise struggle to move forward,” she said, describing efforts to turn new knowledge into approaches that could improve diagnosis, treatment, care and quality of life.
Co-Chair Mark Gormley, Jr., MD, a specialist in pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation at Gillette Children’s, said the projects address biological pathways, timely intervention and inclusive care. “UCP is investing in research that can turn knowledge into better care, better experiences, and better outcomes for individuals and families,” he said.
UCP’s Research Council includes medical professionals, clinician-researchers, parents of individuals with disabilities, individuals with disabilities, UCP Affiliate leaders and community-based advocates. UCP’s affiliate network provides services each year to thousands of children and adults, including early intervention, therapies, job coaching, integrated employment, housing assistance and home- and community-based services. World Cerebral Palsy Day is October 6, the organization said.