Nanomedicine Based Therapy for Perinatal White Matter Injury

The opportunity to change a life can happen at its inception. In keeping with our mission to find pathways that can change life today, the Cerebral Palsy Foundation is helping fund work by the Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins to create a novel and potentially powerful approach to early treatment of issues that cause and decrease the severity of CP.

We know cerebral palsy is caused by the abnormal development or damage to the developing brain. The question however is, “How does one intervene?”

Neuroinflammation that damages the white matter of premature infants is one of the most common causes of cerebral palsy. Under the direction of Dr. Michael V. Johnston, Chief Medical Officer at Kennedy Krieger, researchers are investigating the effectiveness of an anti-inflammatory medication in reducing white matter brain inflammation.

The funding provided by CPF is currently focusing on animal trials and will help to answer critical research questions:

• Can the medication be administered via injection and effectively penetrate the blood brain barrier for optimal results?
• What are the side effects of the medication?
• In relation to the time of inflammation, when does the medication need to be administered, and how long before it is effective?
• If there are markers that determine risk of brain inflammation, can the medication be used preventively?

Once researchers at Kennedy Krieger answer these important questions, clinical trials can commence. This means that in the near future it may be possible for new born babies with cerebral palsy, or at risk infants, to have access to clinically approved medication that is scientifically proven to reduce inflammation – and the therapy can be given in a noninvasive manner.

Smart, thoughtful research questions. A diverse team of specialized doctors and professionals. And a focused mission. It’s how CPF is changing lives – today.