Research Day: "Together, we can make an even greater difference"
For the second consecutive year, the Elsass Foundation hosted a Research Day for researchers who have received support from the Foundation. The event featured engaging presentations, networking opportunities, and knowledge-sharing about the latest CP research.
Research is fundamental to creating lasting changes for people with Cerebral Palsy (CP), which is why the Elsass Foundation invests millions of kroner each year to support research projects in Denmark and abroad.
Last year, the Foundation held its first-ever Research Day, inviting grant recipients to present the results of their projects.
On Tuesday, 29 October, this successful initiative was repeated, with more than 50 researchers and research staff coming together for an exciting afternoon dedicated to CP research.
"The goal of the research day is to increase awareness of CP research both in Denmark and internationally. We also hope the event can inspire future research projects and provide researchers in the field with opportunities to network in an informal setting," explains Pernille Kaster, a research associate at the Elsass Foundation. Together with Jens Bo Nielsen, head of Research and Development, she organised the event and put together a programme featuring 14 exciting presentations on the latest in CP research.
From gaming to identity formation
A glance at the day's programme and speakers reveals the Foundation's support for a wide array of CP research. The presentations covered diverse topics, ranging from optimising training through gaming to exploring identity formation during the transition to adulthood.
One central theme of the day focused on research projects aiming to develop new technology to make everyday life easier for individuals with CP.
One of the day's speakers, Professor Lotte N. S. Andreasen Struijk, head of the Center for Rehabilitation Robotics at Aalborg University, presented her project on using tongue-controlled joysticks in computer games to assist children and young people with CP and oral-motor challenges. The expectation is that tongue training can positively impact difficulties related to speaking, eating, and drooling.
One of the day's speakers, Lotte N. S. Andreasen Struijk, Professor at Aalborg University.
"I see this event as a great opportunity to receive feedback on my own project and gain additional clinical perspectives on my research."
Professor Lotte N. S. Andreasen Struijk travelled from Aalborg University to the Elsass Foundation in Charlottenlund, eager to connect with other CP researchers and receive feedback on her work:
"I was particularly looking forward to hearing about the exciting CP research projects and networking with other researchers. I also see this event as a valuable opportunity to receive feedback on my own project. Coming from an engineering background, my research sits at the intersection of technology and clinical practice, so I’m especially interested in gaining more clinical perspectives on my work," she explained.
Together, we can make a difference
Research is a vital and integral part of the Elsass Foundation, where interdisciplinary collaboration ensures that knowledge is translated into practice in close partnership with researchers, professionals, and people with CP.
The Foundation's ambition is for its research to form the basis for the best possible standards of care, treatment, and services for everyone with CP and their families in Denmark.
Jacob Hübertz, CEO of the Elsass Foundation, welcomes the speakers.
According to Jacob Hübertz, CEO of the Elsass Foundation, it makes perfect sense for the Foundation to host a day where researchers discuss the latest CP research:
"With this research day, the Elsass Foundation aims to create a hub for CP research in Denmark - not only to follow up on the projects the Foundation has supported but also to give researchers the opportunity to network and share knowledge with each other. Together, we can make an even greater difference for people with CP," said Hübertz.
