Our Research

Research and education are integral components of our Center and are continuously pursued in an effort to provide the most up-to-date and innovative treatments available to our patients and to improve future cerebral palsy care. Our research is conducted in two laboratories on UCLA's Westwood campus, as well as in our clinics.

Marie and Alexander Shipman Cerebral Palsy Muscle Disease Research Laboratory

Director: Dr. Kristen Reider

Research in our muscle tissue laboratory is focused on the development of therapeutic strategies to address muscle contractures and improve patient function in cerebral palsy and other musculoskeletal disorders.

Kameron Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory

Director: Dr. Eileen Fowler

In addition to its clinical applications, our gait and motion analysis lab is utilized to investigate research questions related to functional mobility, muscle strength, and motor control in cerebral palsy. Current areas of investigation include torque production in spastic muscle and predictors of post-operative outcomes following orthopaedic surgery.

Some of our ongoing initiatives include:

• Development and validation of the Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE) to assess selective motor control in our patients. Mini-SCALE, a tool for infants and younger children, is currently in development.
• Assessment of muscle stiffness and torque production in patients with cerebral palsy: compared to typically-developing peers and measured pre- and post-operatively for those undergoing orthopaedic surgery.
• Determination of personal and biomechanical factors that may impact surgical outcomes.