Director: Harald Sontheimer, PhD
Medical Director: Alan J. Percy, MD
The mission of the
Center Research
The research, training, and clinical
services of the Center are focused on nervous system development and disorders
as well as preventing and treating a wide range of developmental disabilities
that affect children and families around the world. Home of the Civitan
- Sparks Clinics and
The Civitan - Sparks Clinics
represent the Center’s clinical services division and provide direct clinical services related to developmental
disabilities. The 19 specialty clinics also include specialized equipment
for testing procedures in audiology, speech pathology, psychology, dentistry,
and optometry. The Center-based clinics experienced nearly 8,000 client
encounters during fiscal year 2005 and more than 17,000 additional encounters
took place in community settings throughout
The UCEDD works to improve the lives
of persons with developmental disabilities and their families so that they may
become more fully integrated into their communities and lead productive and
independent lives. Funded by the
The Center is involved in basic research in collaboration
with the Department of Neurobiology. While the focus of the Department's
research is on the molecular and cellular basis of normal structure and
function of the nervous system, much of the work addresses major issues in
neurological health and disease which are related to the focus of the Center
including: epilepsy, brain/spinal cord injury, mental retardation/developmental
disorders, perceptual disorders, and learning and memory.
Mental Retardation/Developmental
The
Center for Glial Biology in
Medicine
In February of 2006 the UAB
Board of Trustees approved the formation of a new research center devoted
exclusively to the study of glial cells and their role in developmental
disabilities, acute injury and related disease of the nervous system. The
Center for Glial Biology in Medicine, the first of its kind in the
Pre- and post-doctoral training take place through the
Center in the following disciplines: pediatrics, psychiatry, neurobiology,
rehabilitation, physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology,
speech/language pathology, psychology, nutrition, social work, optometry, and
dentistry. The
The Center is also engaged in
research in the area of acute traumatic brain and spinal cord injury. Center scientists in the department of
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation are looking at novel therapies to mitigate
the long term disability associated with these types of injury. In addition, a recent grant award from the
Department of Defense will study the effects of explosive percussion waves on
the brain that is experienced by servicemen and women in our military.
A partnership with PICK (Parents of
Infants and Children with Kernicterus) strives to prevent a disability that can
result from a breakdown of bilirubin in the blood of newborn children.
The condition can lead to brain damage affecting a child’s ability to maintain
posture, coordinate movements, and hear properly.
Our
new fMRI facility in the CIRC, began operations April 1, 2007, and is
dedicated to research of neurodevelopmental disorders and disabilities. The centerpiece of the UAB Functional
Neuroimaging Laboratory will be a Siemens 3.0 Tesla Allegra head-only MRI
scanner. The short bore of the scanner
allows family members or companions to remain with the subject if they are
frightened or agitated. N. Shastry Akella, PhD, Research Assistant Professor in
Biomedical Engineering is the Director of the UAB Functional Neuroimaging
Lab.
The
For more
information or clarification, please contact:
Anne Wailes, Program Director I
Email: awailes@
uab.edu
Phone: 205-934-8900 or 1-800-822-2472
Facsimile: 205-975-6330
Web Site: http://www.circ.uab.edu/
Approved
by: Harald Sontheimer, PhD, Director
Date:
April 21, 2008
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