Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre

Dr Carly Luke

Postdoctoral fellow - Research Physiotherapist
Child Health Research Centre
+61 7 3069 7355

Researcher biography

Dr Carly Luke is a Senior Research Physiotherapist and Post Doctoral Research Fellow with the Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, the University of Queensland. With over 15 years of clinical experience, her work is focused on delivering care to infants with an increased likelihood of cerebral palsy and other neurodevelopmental delays and neurodiverse outcomes. She has a strong interest in training and capacity building and has supported the implementation of the CP early detection guidelines across QLD and in low-resource countries as a HINE trainer and advanced General Movements assessor.  Dr Luke has demonstrated leadership in advocating for change to the model of care and neonatal follow-up pathways for 'high risk' infants in Queensland through the implementation of early developmental screening programs across First Nations (culturally-adapted), regional, rural and remote contexts. Her research interest is focused on understanding early infant motor behaviours and neuromotor trajectories to determine early biomarkers for CP and other neurodevelopmental concerns.

Featured projects Duration
Queensland Early Detection and Intervention Network – for children at risk of Cerebral Palsy (QEDIN-CP)
Queensland Government
 2016–2026
LEAP-CP: Peer delivered early detection and intervention for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy/neurodevelopmental disability in Indigenous Australia: Learning through Everyday Activities with Parents Study
National Health and Medical Research Council
 2020–2024

Publications

Journal Articles (4)
Conference Papers (17)
Research Report (1)

Journal Articles

Burgess, Andrea, Luke, Carly, Jackman, Michelle, Wotherspoon, Jane, Whittingham, Koa, Benfer, Katherine, Goodman, Sarah, Caesar, Rebecca, Nesakumar, Tiffney, Bora, Samudragupta, Honeyman, David, Copplin, Danielle, Reedman, Sarah, Cairney, John, Reid, Natasha, Boyd, Roslyn N. and Sakzewski, Leanne (2024). Clinical utility and psychometric properties of tools for early detection of developmental concerns and disability in young children: a scoping review. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.16076
Luke, Carly, Mick-Ramsamy, Leeann, Bos, Arend F., Benfer, Katherine A., Bosanquet, Margot, Gordon, Anya, Williams, Hailey, Taifalos, Chloe, Smith, Maria, Leishman, Shaneen, Oakes, Ellena, Kentish, Megan, McNamara, Lynda, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Relationship between early infant motor repertoire and neurodevelopment on the hammersmith infant neurological examination in a developmentally vulnerable first nations cohort. Early Human Development, 192 106004. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2024.106004
Benfer, Katherine, Boyd, Roslyn N, Roe, Yvette, Fagan, Ruth, Luke, Carly, Mick-Ramsamy, Leeann, Whittingham, Koa, Novak, Iona, Bosanquet, Margot, McNamara, Lynda, Khandaker, Gulam, Fogarty, Lucy, Cadet-James, Yvonne, Ruben, Alan, Comans, Tracy, Smith, Anthony and Ware, Robert S (2023). Study protocol: peer delivered early intervention (Learning through Everyday Activities with Parents for Infants at risk of Cerebral Palsy: LEAP-CP) for First Nation Australian infants at high risk of cerebral palsy – an RCT study. BMJ Open, 13 (3) e059531, 1-16. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059531
Luke, Carly R., Benfer, Katherine, Mick-Ramsamy, Leeann, Ware, Robert S., Reid, Natasha, Bos, Arend F., Bosanquet, Margot and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2022). Early detection of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants at high risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months corrected age: LEAP-CP prospective cohort study protocol. BMJ Open, 12 (1) e053646, e053646. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053646

Conference Papers

Burgess, A., Luke, C., Jackman, M., Wotherspoon, J., Whittingham, K., Benfer, K., Goodman, S., Caesar, R., Nesakumar, T., Bora, S., Honeyman, D., Copplin, D., Reedman, S., Cairney, J., Reid, N., Sakzewski, L. and Boyd, R. (2024). Tools for early detection of developmental concerns and/or disability in young children (aged birth–5 years 11 months): A scoping review. American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Quebec, QC Canada, 23-26 October 2024. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Luke, Carly, Benfer, Katherine, Ware, Robert S., Leishman, Shaneen, Bosanquet, Margot, Gordon, Anya, Williams, Hailey, Taifalos, Chloe, Bos, Arend F. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Motor Optimality Score-revised and Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination predict high likelihood of autism at 12 months corrected age in a developmentally vulnerable infant cohort. American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Quebec, QC, Canada, 23-26 October 2024. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Luke, Carly, Mick-Ramsamy, Leeann, Benfer, Katherine, Ware, Robert S., Leishman, Shaneen, Bosanquet, Margot, Gordon, Anya, Williams, Hailey, Taifalos, Chloe, Oakes, Ellena, Smith, Maria, Kentish, Megan, McNamara, Lynda, Bos, Arend F. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Early screening tools predict neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months in a developmentally vulnerable First Nations infant cohort. American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Quebec, QC, Canada, 23-26 October 2024. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Luke, Carly, Carlton, Morgan, Finn, Christine, Gibson, Sarah, Shannon, Bernadette, Oakes, Ellena, Gordon, Anya, Morris, Kym, McNamara, Lynda, George, Joanne, Thomas, Rachel, Kentish, Megan, Leishman, Shaneen, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Implementation of a state-wide early detection network predicts neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years in an ‘at risk’ infant cohort. American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Quebec, QC Canada, 23-26 October 2024.
Luke, Carly, Carlton, Morgan, Finn, Christine, Gibson, Sarah, Shannon, Bernadette, Oakes, Ellena, Gordon, Anya, Morris, Kym, McNamara, Lynda, George, Joanne, Thomas, Rachel, Kentish, Megan, Leishman, Shaneen, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Implementation of a state-wide early detection network predicts neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years in an ‘at risk’ infant cohort. 12th AusACPDM Biennial Conference, Cairns, QLD, Australia, 31 July-3 August 2024.
Luke, Carly, Mick-Ramsamy, Leeann, Benfer, Katherine, Ware, Robert S., Leishman, Shaneen, Bosanquet, Margot, Gordon, Anya, Williams, Hailey, Taifalos, Chloe, Oakes, Ellena, Smith, Maria, Bos, Arend F. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Early screening tools predict neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months in a developmentally vulnerable First Nations infant cohort. 12th AusACPDM Biennial Conference, Cairns, QLD, Australia, 31 July-3 August 2024. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Burgess, A., Luke, C., Jackman, M., Wotherspoon, J., Whittingham, K., Benfer, K., Goodman, S., Caesar, R., Nesakumar, T., Reedman, S., Bora, S., Honeyman, D., Copplin, D., Cairney, J., Reid, N., Boyd, R. and Sakzewski, L. (2024). Tools for early detection of developmental concerns and/or disability in young children (aged birth–5 years 11 months): a scoping review. 12th AusACPDM Biennial Conference, Cairns, QLD Australia, 31 July-3 August 2024. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
Luke, Carly, Benfer, Katherine, Ware, Robert S., Leishman, Shaneen, Bosanquet, Margot, Gordon, Anya, Williams, Hailey, Taifalos, Chloe, Bos, Arend F. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Motor Optimality Score-Revised and Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination predict high likelihood of autism in developmentally vulnerable First Nations infants.. 12th AusACPDM Biennial Conference, Cairns, QLD, Australia, 31 July-3 August 2024. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Luke, C., Benfer, K., Ware , R. S., Gordon, A., Williams, H., Taifalos, C., Leishman, S., Bos, A. and Boyd, R. N. (2024). Motor optimality score-revised (MOS-R) and Hammersmith infant neurological examination (HINE) predict high likelihood of autism at 12 months corrected age in a developmentally vulnerable infant cohort. 36th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability, Bruges, Belgium, 29 May-1 June 2024. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.15934
Luke, C., Mick-Ramsamy, L., Benfer, K., Ware, R. S., Leishman, S., Bosanquet, M., Gordon, A., Williams, H., Taifalos, C., Oakes, E., Smith, M., Bos, A. and Boyd, R. N. (2024). Early screening tools predict neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months in a developmentally vulnerable First Nations infant cohort. 36th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability, Bruges, Belgium, 29 May-1 June 2024. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.15934
Burgess, A., Luke, C., Jackman, M., Wotherspoon, J., Whittingham, K., Benfer, K., Goodman, S., Caesar, R., Nesakumar, T., Bora, S., Honeyman, D., Copplin, D., Reedman, S., Cairney, J., Reid, N., Sakzewski, L. and Boyd, R.N. (2024). Tools for early detection of developmental concerns and/or disability in young children (aged birth–5 years 11 months): A scoping review. European Academy of Childhood Disability, Bruges, Belgium, 29 May-1 June 2024. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Luke, Carly, McNamara, Lynda, Gordon, Anya, Carlton, Morgan, Finn, Christine, Gibson, Sarah, Morris, Kym, Shannon, Bernadette, Oakes, Ellena, Thomas, Rachel, George, Joanne, Kentish, Megan, Ware, Robert and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Implementation of a state-wide early detection network and prediction of neurodevelopmental outcomes in a developmentally vulnerable infant cohort. European Academy of Childhood Disability, Bruges, Belgium, 29 May-1 June 2024.
Luke, Carly, Mick-Ramsamy, Leeann, Bos, Arend F., Ware, Robert S., Gordon, Anya, Taifalos, Chloe, Williams, Hailey, Smith, Maria, Benfer, Katherine, Bosanquet, Margot, Leishman, Shaneen and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2023). Predictive accuracy of early screening in First Nations infants at risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in the LEAP-CP study. American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States, 10-13 September 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Luke, Carly, Bos, Arend F., Jackman, Michelle, Gordon, Anya, Finn, Christine, Baptist, Dyvonne H., Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2023). Reproducibility of Prechtl’s General Movements Assessment and the Motor Optimality Score – revised (MOS-R) in infants ‘at risk’ of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States, 10-13 September 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Luke, Carly, McNamara, Lynda, Carlton, Morgan, Finn, Christine, Gibson, Sarah, Morris, Kym, Shannon, Bernadette, Oakes, Ellena, Gordon, Anya, Thomas, Rachel, George, Joanne, Kentish, Megan, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2023). Prediction of adverse Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in a state-wide Early Detection Network (QEDIN-CP). American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States, 10-13 September 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Luke, C., Mcnamara, L., Gordon, A., Finn, C., Gibson, S., Morris, K., Shannon, B., Oakes, E., Thomas, R., George, J., Kentish, M., Ware, R. and Boyd, R. (2023). Implementation of the state-wide Queensland Early Detection Network (QEDIN-CP) – Prediction of outcomes for infants at risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. 35th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD), Ljubljana, Slovenia, 24-27 May 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.15595
Luke, C., Bos, A., Ware, R., Gordon, A., Taifalos, C., Williams, H., Benfer, K., Bosanquet, M. and Boyd, R. (2023). Relationship between infant motor repertoire at 3–5 months and early neurodevelopment on the hammersmith infant neurological examination in a cohort of ‘at risk’ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants. 35th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD), Ljubljana, Slovenia, 24-27 May 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.15594

Research Report

Boyle, F. M., Boyd, R. N., Burgess, A., Cairney, J., Carle, M., Dean, J., Lohan, A., Luke, C., Vlack, S. and Wheeler, K. (2023). Scoping and gap analysis of tools, resources and training for primary health care professionals, and tools and resources for parents and carers, on early detection of disability or developmental concerns in young children - Final Report. Brisbane: The University of Queensland.

Areas of research

Early intervention
Education and training