Children's Hospital Education Research Institute (CHERI)
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Overview
The Children's Hospital Education Research Institute (CHERI) conducts research which promotes children's health and well-being through improvements in the interface between health and education.
CHERI's research program focuses on establishing the cognitive and psychosocial profile of children with medical, developmental, and/or psychological conditions such as neurofibromatosis type 1 and velocardiofacial syndrome.
Research achievements
CHERI's research has centred on characterising the cognitive profile of children with a clinical condition who are also experience learning difficulties. In conjunction with the Institute for Neuroscience and Muscle Research, CHERI is involved in an international clinical trial to determine whether lovastatin, a cholesterol lowering medication, reverses learning problems in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).
It is also following a cohort of young children with NF1 from infancy to school age. The results of this study will allow for the early identification of children with NF1 at risk of academic failure and subsequent early intervention. This is the first longitudinal study of young children with NF1.
CHERI is conducting a study that aims to identify the cognitive and psychosocial deficits that are specific to children with velocardiofacial syndrome by comparing their profile to an intellectually matched control group. Other current studies focus on improving children's well being – it is examining the role of social support from parents, teachers and peers on the health related quality of life of children newly diagnosed with cancer.
Other work involves the examination of the vocational development of adolescents with cystic fibrosis, and a national study to identify the support needs of full time workers who care for a child with a chronic illness. Results of this study will be used to make recommendations to policy makers.
