On Balance with Rachel Byrne Executive Director of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation

On Balance

Rachel Byrne, Executive Director of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF), joins host Dr. Rod Berger to learn more about CP and the educational opportunities to impact individuals, families, educators, and organizations driving CPF's mission.

More than 17 million people globally are living with Cerebral Palsy (CP), making it the most common lifelong physical disability. Yet, it has been historically overlooked and underfunded. Few people are aware of the impact access to early detection can have on patient lives.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Ireland, backed by $12.5 million from notable donors, including John and Patrick Collison, Rachel is combining the worlds of health and tech. CPF will collaborate with universities and healthcare institutions to pilot and implement crucial research areas, paving the way for nationwide advancements in CP care.

In this episode Dr. Berger and Rachel look at:

The critical role of early intervention in improving outcomes for people with brain injuries like CP.

Steps she's taking to increase awareness and support for CP public policy, research, and investments on a global scale.

The Foundation's approach to investing in research to inform implementation.

Rachel Byrne is the Executive Director at the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. She has been working in the field of pediatric rehabilitation and cerebral palsy research for over a decade. Rachel has a background in physical therapy, with a particular interest in neuroplasticity and motor learning. Her early career as a clinician delivering physical therapy services in schools, hospitals and private practice is underpinned by her research interests focused on knowledge translation and the impact on a person’s ability to participate in the community across the lifespan.

At the Foundation, she has continued her research interest in evidence-based practice, knowledge translation, early detection and interventions across the lifespan and population studies for cerebral palsy. Rachel was instrumental in developing the Just Say Hi inclusion curriculum which is now being taught nationally. In the last 12 years she has given multiple presentations at international conferences and managed large multisite research projects.