Researcher biography

Professor Roslyn Boyd is Scientific Director of the Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre (QCPRRC) an internationally recognised research group at the University of Queensland in the School of Medicine. The centre includes a multidisciplinary team of 38 researchers and in addition provides clinical research leadership to 60 clinicians from multiple disciplines in the state-wide Queensland Paediatric Rehabilitation Service based at the Lady Cilento Childrens Hospital.  After primary training and experience in Australia and London as a physiotherapist she completed her PhD in neuroscience at La Trobe University, the Brain Research Institute and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne for which she was awarded the Premier's Commendation by the Victorian Government.  Prof. Boyd arrived at the University of Queensland in 2007 as a recipient of a Smart State Fellowship and more recently has led an EBrain program grant funded by the Qld Government Department of innovation. Her research team focuses on research on the early natural history of motor and brain development for preschool aged children with CP, the efficacy of novel rehabilitation for children with Hemiplegia and very early detection and early intervention for infants at high risk of CP (all funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia).  This research program is underpinned by advanced brain imaging including functional imaging of the motor and sensory motor cortex, Diffusion Imaging and Functional Connectivity to assess the impact of training on neuroplasticity (NHMRC, ARC). Prof. Boyd has been awarded the prestigious international Gayle Arnold Award on 3 occasions at the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. Prof Boyd has published over 170 manuscripts in peer-reviewed international journals and has achieved over $29M in research funding.