March 2022
Welcome!

The CP-NET Today! newsletter will keep you updated on exciting research and developments in the area of Cerebral Palsy (CP) research funded by the Ontario Brain Institute (OBI), as well as news and events of interest to the CP-NET community. Please feel free to share this newsletter with family, friends and colleagues. They can subscribe to the CP-NET Today! e-Newsletter for free by registering here. Don't forget to check the cp-net.org website for more great resources on CP.
Upcoming Event: OBI Public Talks
Your Brain Health Series
April 28 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM EDT
Register today for the OBI Public Talks "Your Brain Health Series"
This OBI Public Talk, the first in the 2022-23 Your Brain Health series, will demonstrate how positioning young patients as stakeholder experts and co-creators of knowledge lays the groundwork of successful strategies for peers and families to tackle mental health issues that may impact young people with brain disorders.
See the poster below for more information.
Meet the Expert Series
Meet the Experts on Transition from pediatric to adult healthcare
On March 25th, CP-NET and the Health Hub in Transition hosted a Meet the Expert event on the transition from pediatric to adult-centred care for youth and young adults with special healthcare needs. Watch the recorded event to hear from three people with lived experience:
  • Natasha Trehan, a youth who is currently preparing for the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare services.
  • Danijela Grahovac, a mother of a 19 year old son with Cerebral Palsy who recently transitioned to adult healthcare services.
  • Jessica Geboers, a young adult who will reflect on her transition to adult healthcare experience.

Meet the Experts on Neurotechnology
On January 24th, CP-NET hosted a Meet the Expert Series with Drs. Elaine Biddiss and Anna McCormick. They answered questions about the CP-NET neurotechnology platform and a video game called Bootle Blast that tracks the movement of children with cerebral palsy. Watch the recorded session below!
Community Profile
Megan Sherwin
by Jessica Geboers

Megan Sherwin is studying Recreation and Sports Business at the University of Waterloo. She is also a para swimmer on the university’s varsity swim team. Megan volunteers at and is a member of the KidsAbility Youth Advisory Council (KAYAC) when not studying or swimming. Click here to read the full article.
Article synopsis: After trying many different sports, Megan found her passion in swimming. She is now a member of the University of Waterloo's varsity swim team (Waterloo Warriors) as a para swimmer. Megan recently competed in the University Provincial Championships and achieved the best time in her 200-meter race.

Megan's training is very intensive as she trains twice per day six days a week. However, Megan has been able to balance swimming with school, as she has gained valuable life skills in time management and teamwork. “Swimming has helped my school, and school has helped my swimming,” says Megan. “I don’t know what I would do without either of them.”
“Don’t put yourself in a box because you have a disability. There are so many opportunities from it that you may not expect. Eventually, you’ll find something that works for you.” - Megan Sherwin
Youth Participation in Research & Leaving a Data Legacy
In this podcast, created in collaboration between the Ontario Brain Institute, CP-NET and EpLink, hear from three young adults about the benefits of youth participation in research, the impact of community involvement in research and leaving a data legacy. Click here to listen to the podcast with Anupra Chandran, Kyle Chambers, and Amanda St. Dennis.


Guests:
  • Amanda St. Dennis (Moderator): member of CP-NET’s stakeholder advisory committee and CanChild Transition Hub, and co-investigator of The Youth Engagement in Research project
  • Aunpra Chandran: Chief Transition Officer and co-founder of Biotein
  • Kyle Chambers: Patient Partner with CanChild

Click here to learn more about the Ontario Brain Institute's Discovery Starts with You.
Watch the most recent OBI Public Talk
Three Lives, Many Stories
The Three Lives, Many Stories, is the final public talk in the Ontario Brain Institute’s 2021-22 Wellness Series. This talk focuses on first-hand accounts of three such individual, including Amanda St. Dennis who is a member of the CP-NET Stakeholder Advisory Committee.
Recent Publications by CP-NET Members

Eighty-three individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) at risk for multimorbidity (at least two chronic health conditions) completed a survey on health outcomes: physical behaviour, nutrition, sleep, endurance, body composition, blood pressure, blood lipids, and glucose. Most participants rated physical behaviour, nutrition, sleep, and endurance as very important. The core outcome set identified that most participants had poor sleep quality and endurance, did not have healthy diets, and showed increased sedentary behaviour. Individuals with CP valued these outcomes as most important, suggesting a need to assess these modifiable behaviours in this population.

Authors: Patrick G. McPhee, Joyce L. Benner, Liam Sanvido, Marij E. Roebroeck, Rita J. van den Berg‐Emons, Wilma M. van der Slot, Olaf Verschuren, Edward A. Hurvitz, Mark D. Peterson, and Jan Willem Gorter.



White matter injury is an important predictor of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm neonates. When it is detected on neonatal brain imaging, a detailed characterization of the injury (pattern of injury, severity and location) may enhance the ability to predict outcomes. This clinically-oriented review provides an overview of the pathophysiology and imaging diagnosis of the multiple dimensions of white matter injury. It also explores the association between postnatal complications and white matter injury, and provides guidance on the significance of white matter anomalies for motor and cognitive development.


Authors: Mireille Guillot and Steven P. Miller.
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If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at  cpnet@mcmaster.ca
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Funding for CP-NET is provided by the Ontario Brain Institute and our partners.
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