Professor Nadia Badawi

World renowned neonatologist, Professor Nadia Badawi was appointed to the position of Macquarie Group Foundation Chair of Cerebral Palsy in 2009. Professor Badawi is based at Notre Dame University, School of Medicine, from where she is leading our dedicated team of researchers at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute.

Professor Badawi has extensive experience in the field of cerebral palsy. She is Medical Director of The Grace Centre for Newborn Care at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. She is also Honorary Research Fellow at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, WA and Clinical Associate Professor in Paediatrics at the University of Sydney.

With an outstanding record in attracting and leading research in the area of cerebral palsy, one of Professor Badawi’s key roles as Chair is to implement the strategic plan for cerebral palsy research priorities. The position of Chair has been funded by the Macquarie Group Foundation and the Commonwealth Government.

Professor Badawi’s research builds on the evidence that fundamental brain structure can and does change; that the brain changes with every different activity it performs; and that when certain parts are destroyed, sometimes other areas of the brain can and will take over.

Alongside advances in brain-imaging technology, stem-cell science, gene therapy and metabolic research, this newfound awareness of plasticity is transforming medical science's attitude towards severe brain injury.

I have no hesitation in now saying that one day there will be prevention and there will be a cure for cerebral palsy, Professor Nadia Badawi 2010.