Dr David Hobbs from the Medical Device Research Institute (MDRI) shared his research with a talk at the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AusACPDM) conference in March, following his prestigious PhD Platform Award win last year.

Dr Hobbs’ talk was based on his winning paper, and titled ‘Can a Novel ‘Serious Gaming’ Technology Improve Upper Limb Sensation and Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy? A Population-based Cohort Study and Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial’.

Every two years, the Academy selects two winners who have recently completed their PhDs, who then present their research at its biennial conference.

Dr Hobbs received his PhD in December 2018 and was supervised by Professor Karen Reynolds, Professor Susan Hillier (UniSA) and Associate Professor Ray Russo (a former Academy ‘PhD Platform Award’ winner himself in 2012).

Themed ‘2020 Visionaries’, the 11-14 March meeting took place in Perth just before strict COVID-19 restrictions came into force in Australia. More than 500 researchers, clinicians and people with a disability attended the premier disability meeting that covers all aspects of cerebral palsy and developmental medicine.

A highlight of the event was the gala dinner, with a masquerade theme that delegates enthusiastically embraced.