Some of the latest updates from doctors at the Civitan International Research Center will surely make your Civitan spirit bright this holiday season.  More than 130 laboratories and clinical care providers are working on the latest treatments, therapies and information concerning dozens of neurodevelopmental disorders.  That includes:

Dr. Brandon Rocque is a pediatric neurologist studying hydrocephalus.  His team is currently recruiting families for their pilot intervention program to build resilience in parents of children with the disorder.  Hydrocephalus is an abnormal buildup of fluid the cavities deep within the brain.  It’s been demonstrated parents of these children generally have low resilience, which leads to a high risk of medical traumatic stress.

Dr. David Schwebel runs the UAB Youth Safety Lab associated with the CIRC.  He just published a book that guides parents to raise children safe from accidental injuries.  His team at the Safety Lab has recently been studying young children’s pedestrian safety in parking lots, the impact of superhero media on children’s risk-taking behavior and safety intervention programs in rural areas.

Dr. Vladimir Parpura was just ranked second in the world as a cited expert on astrocytes, which are star-shaped cells found throughout the central nervous system.  He discovered a pathway for these astrocytes that can be utilized to help with sleep, respiration and learning and memory.  Dr. Parpura has also worked on studies related to glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer.  The implications of his work are critical in understanding many nervous system disorders.

Dr. Edward Taub’s lab recently received funding from the National Institute on Aging to study the efficacy of a newly developed cognitive therapy for improving brain impairment in people with chronic stroke.

 A quick two-minute video on the work of Dr. Summer Thyme is posted on the Civitan International Vimeo page.  Click here to watch it and be sure to share with your fellow members!  Clubs can support the important work at the CIRC by donating to Civitan International’s Civitans at the Helm program.