Lisa Letzkus, PhD
Backed by a five-year, $3.1 million grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Lisa Letzkus, PhD, RN, CPNP-AC, FANN, an associate professor of pediatrics, translational nurse scientist, and pediatric developmental nurse practitioner at the University of Virginia, is leading a national study focused on improving early detection of cerebral palsy (CP).
CP is a lifelong movement disorder caused by non-progressive brain injury or abnormalities, often resulting in significant motor disabilities. The project, titled “Physiomarker for Early, Equitable Cerebral Palsy Prediction,” aims to develop a new tool called PreCEPT (Predicting CP for Earlier and more Equitable Treatment) that uses data already collected in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to identify infants at high risk for CP during their hospital stay.
Dr. Letzkus, who brings more than 16 years of clinical experience caring for high-risk infants, is partnering with UVA professors, neonatologist Karen Fairchild, MD, and mathematician Doug Lake, PhD, both leaders in neonatal physiology and data analytics. The research team will analyze heart rate, breathing, and oxygen levels from thousands of preterm infants at UVA and seven other NICUs nationwide. These vital signs, continuously monitored in all NICUs, may contain early signals of nervous system dysfunction linked to CP. By identifying these physiologic markers—called “physiomarkers”—the team aims to create a reliable, accessible risk score that can guide early referral to therapies. Earlier identification means treatment can begin during a critical window of brain development, potentially improving outcomes and reducing long-term disability for children and families.
Filed Under: Research