VIP Study

The Challenge

Cerebral palsy is a complex condition that requires early intervention for the best outcomes. The VIP Study aims to improve early intervention methods, providing comprehensive support and resources for both infants and their parents.

Project Overview 

The VIP Study is a groundbreaking initiative led by Dr. Cathy Morgan and Professor Nadia Badawi at Cerebral Palsy Alliance. The single-blind, randomised controlled trial (RCT) involves 128 infants at high risk of cerebral palsy. The goal is to compare the effects of a 6-month Very early Intensive multimodal enrichment Program (VIP) with the evidence-based parent education and monitoring program (usual care). 

Key focus areas:

• Infant cognition
• Infant motor skills
• Infant communication skills
• Parent wellbeing
• Parent responsiveness
• Quality of life for both infants and parents

‍Project Outcomes

The primary hypothesis is that the VIP program will improve the General Development Index of the Developmental Assessment of Young Children (DAY-C). The study outcome is to implement the first co-design of very early intensive intervention for infants with brain injuries, including resources and support systems for parents.

Measuring Impact

Hearts and Minds measures its impact across six core categories as developed by the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes. Key highlights include:

Advancing Knowledge

• Collaborations: Working closely with NSW Health.
• Consumer Group Awareness: CP Quest is involved in the project, and a parent of a child with cerebral palsy is a named investigator.‍
• Knowledge Sharing: Submitted a workshop on co-design to the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disabilities for 2025.

Research Capacity Building

• Supporting Diverse Talent: The project is led by women, and the team includes four early-stage researchers and an Indigenous female PhD student.

Health Impacts

• Health System Improvements: Potential influence on early NDIS access criteria.‍
• Mental Health Support: Early identification of parent support structures to prevent poor mental health.

Social Impacts

• Inclusivity: Participant recruitment includes sites in lower socio-economic areas.
• Improved Access to Services: Home visits to accommodate families with transport challenges.
• Improved Health Literacy: Early provision of information and resources for navigating disability systems and understanding the impact of brain injury on child development.‍
• Peer Support: Early and ongoing peer support for parents.

Economic Impacts

• Funding: Additional support from a large multisite NHMRC grant for a Centre of Research Excellence in very early cerebral palsy (DRIVE-CP).

Informing Decisions:

• Clinical Guidelines: Senior researchers have published international clinical guidelines on early diagnosis and intervention in cerebral palsy.‍
• Decision-Making Groups: Active involvement of parents of children with cerebral palsy in designing study aspects.

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This project aims to transform early intervention methods, providing the best possible outcome for infants at risk of cerebral palsy.

‍Funding support from Hearts and Minds Investments, for further information and updates, visit Cerebral Palsy Alliance. This content was last updated in July 2024.