What is the MUGgLE study?
The MUGgLE study is a research study, funded by the Australian government, investigating how muscles grow in typically developing children and children with cerebral palsy. MRI scans will be obtained of the lower legs of children aged 5 to 14 years and of infants aged 0 to 3 months at NeuRA’s Imaging Facility in Randwick (Sydney), Australia.
Who can participate?
Infants aged 0 to 3 months and children aged 5 to 14 with cerebral palsy can participate in the MUGgLE study. As per November 2023, we have finished recruitment.
Find out moreWhat does participation involve?
Participation involves visiting NeuRA in Randwick once (for infants) or three times (for children) for 1-2 hours and having an MRI scan of the leg. MRI scans are painless, harmless, don’t use radiation and don’t cause discomfort.
Find out moreWhy participate?
You will contribute to research that will help scientists understand disordered muscle growth in children with cerebral palsy. You will see, first-hand scientific research being conducted at one of Australia’s leading research institutes. You will be given a small gift or a small cash reimbursement.
We thank The Card Network for sponsoring $50 gift cards for MUGgLE participants.
Research team
The MUGgLE study is a collaboration between researchers from Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute.
The MUGgLE team
Professor Rob Herbert
Senior Principal Research Scientist, NeuRA
Rob is a Senior Principal Research Scientist at NeuRA, Professor at UNSW School of Medicine, a NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. His research has focused on mechanical properties of muscles, with a focus on understanding mechanisms that cause muscle contractures in people living with neurological conditions. Rob leads the MUGgLE study.
Professor Iona Novak
Head of Research, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute
Iona is Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney, Head of Research at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute and co-founder of the Australian Cerebral Palsy Register. Her research focuses on generating and translating new knowledge on interventions for cerebral palsy.
Professor Caroline (Lindy) Rae
Professor of Brain Sciences, UNSW
Lindy is Chair of Brain Sciences at UNSW, Senior Principal Research Scientist at NeuRA, Director (Research) at NeuRA Imaging and of the UNSW Node of the National Imaging Facility. She uses magnetic resonance techniques along with interdisciplinary approaches to investigate neurological problems. Lindy will oversee image acquisition and image protocol development of the MUGgLE study.
Professor David Warton
Professor, UNSW School of Mathematics and Statistics.
David is a Professor at the School of Mathematics and Statistics, affiliated with the Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and the Centre for Ecosystem Services at UNSW Sydney. He will oversee statistical analyses of the MUGgLE study.
Dr Bart Bolsterlee
Research Fellow, NeuRA
Bart is a biomedical engineer and Research Fellow at Neuroscience Research Australia and Conjoint Lecturer at the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of New South Wales. He oversees image data acquisition and analysis for the MUGgLE study.
Dr Cathy Morgan
Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute
Cathy is dedicated to the prevention and cure of cerebral palsy (CP) through a research program of neuro-protective, neuro-regenerative and early intervention clinical trials. She will help set up recruitment procedures, train staff, assist in extraction and interpretation of clinical data from the register, advise on clinical issues. Cathy will also contribute to the interpretation of the study findings, particularly with respect to growth of muscles in children with cerebral palsy.
Dr Gordana Popovic
Statistical consultant, Stats Central UNSW
Gordana is a statistical consultant at Stats Central, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, and research fellow at the School of Mathematics and Statistics. She will lead statistical analyses of the MUGgLE study.
Brian Chow
PhD candidate, NeuRA
Brian is an electronics engineer (BEng, Hons) who is studying for a PhD. Brian will be involved in all aspects of the study, including recruitment, data acquisition, data analyses and presentation of results in scientific journals and conferences.
Ann Lancaster
Physiotherapist
Ann is a physiotherapist with much experience as a clinician working with children with cerebral palsy and their families. She will be primarily involved in recruitment of children with cerebral palsy .
Suzie Davies
Physiotherapist, NeuRA
Suzie is an experienced physiotherapist who works with children with physical disabilities and motor delays. She oversees participant recruitment and will conduct clinical assessments on children with cerebral palsy.
Claudia Rizzo
Physiotherapist, NeuRA
Claudia is an experienced physiotherapist who works with children with physical disabilities and motor delay. She will conduct clinical assessments on MUGgLE participants.
Contact us
Let us know if you have any questions about the MUGgLE study.