Bloorview Research Institute

Scientist Profiles

Name: Darcy Fehlings

Title: Senior Scientist and Bloorview Childrens Hospital Foundation Chair in Developmental Paediatrics, Physician Director of the Child Development Program

Theme: Evaluation of Practice

Education:

M.D. Medicine, University of Toronto (1983)
M.Sc., Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University (1991)

University Position:

Associate Professor of Paediatrics, University of Toronto
Head, Division of Developmental Paediatrics, University of Toronto

Research Interests:

Innovating and evaluating neurorehabilitation treatments for children and youth with cerebral palsy

Current Funding:

Title: An Evaluation of the Long-term Effectiveness of Botulinum Toxin in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy. 
Researchers: Fehlings D, Goldsmith C, Narayanan U, Rosenbaum P, Wright W
Agency: Canadian Institutes of Health Research ($442,307 2008 - 2012)

Title:Cerebral Palsy: Causes to Prevention - Phase 1: The Canadian Cerebral Palsy Registry - GTA division ($210,000 2010-2013)
Researchers: Goldowitz D, Shevell M, Fehlings M, Fehlings D, Scherer S, Majnemer A, Yager J (Cerebral Palsy Demonstration Project)
Agency: Neurodevelopmental Network: National Centres of Excellence (NeuroDevNet NCE). ($19,572,000 2010 - 2015)

Title: CP Fit n’ Fun Project: Health & Social Benefits of Virtual Exercise Games in Adolescents with CP.
Researchers: Fehlings D (CoPI), Graham N, Wright V
Agency: NeuroDevNet & GRAND – Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada (NCE) ($150,000 2010-2012)

Title: Identifying Risk Factors Associated with Pain in Children and Youth with Cerebral Palsy & Effectiveness of Spasticity Interventions in Alleviating Pain & Improving Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Cerebral Palsy
Researchers: Fehlings D, Switzer L, Narayanan U, Dupuis A
Agency: Unrestricted Grant from Allergan Canada ($109,953.75- 2010-2012)

Selected Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications:

Fehlings D, Rang M, Glazier J, Steele C. An evaluation of Botulinum-A toxin injections to improve upper extremity function in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.J Pediatr. 2000; 137(3): 331-337. PA

Fehlings D, Rang M, Glazier J, Steele C. Botulinum Toxin Type A injections in the spastic upper extremity of children with hemiplegia: child characteristics that predict a positive outcome. Eur J Neurol. 2001; 8(supp 5): 145-149.  PA

Fehlings D, Vajsar J, Wilk B, Stephens D, Bar-Or O. Anaerobic muscle performance of children after long-term recovery from Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2004; 46(10): 689-93.  PA

Fehlings D. The use of Botulinum Toxin in paediatric hypertonia. Paediatrics and Child Health. 2005; 10: 379-381.  PA

Kawamura A, Campbell K, Lam-Damji S, Fehlings D. A randomized controlled trial comparing botulinum toxin A dosage in the upper extremity of children with spasticity. Dev Med Child Neurology 2007: 49: pp 331-37.  SRI

Sutcliffe TL, Gaetz WC, Logan WJ, Cheyne DO, Fehlings DL: Cortical reorganization after modified constraint-induced movement therapy in pediatric hemiplegic cerebral palsy.  Journal of Child Neurology 2007: 22(11): pp 1281-87.  SRI

Murphy A, Milo-Manson G, Best A, Campbell K, Fehlings D: The impact of modafinil on spasticity reduction and quality of life in children with cerebral palsy.  Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 2008: 50: pp 510-514.  SRI

Sutcliffe TL, Logan WJ, Fehlings DL: Pediatric constraint-induced movement therapy is associated with increased contralateral cortical activity on functional magnetic resonance imaging.  Journal of Child Neurology 2009: 24(10): pp 1230-5.  SRI

Li W, Lam-Damji S, Chau T, Fehlings D: The development of a home-based virtual reality therapy system to promote upper extremity movement for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.  Technology and Disability 2009: 21(3): pp 107-113.  SRI

Delgado M, Hirtz D, Aisen M, Ashwal S, Fehlings D, McLaughlin J, Morrison L, Shrader M, Tilton A, Vargus-Adams J: Practice parameter: Pharmacologic treatment of spasticity in children and adoloscents with cerebral palsy (an evidence-based review): report of the quality standards subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the practice committee of the Child Neurology Society.  Neurology 2010: 74(4): pp 336-343.  C

Jethwa A, Mink J, Macarthur C, Knights S, Fehlings T, Fehlings D: Development of the hypertonia assessment tool (HAT): A discriminative tool for hypertonia in children.  Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 2010: 52(5):e83-e87. SRI

Fehlings D, Novak I, Berweck S, Hoare B, Stott S, Russo R: Botulinum toxin assessment, intervention and follow-up for paediatric upper limb hypertonicity: international consensus statement.  European Journal of Neurology 2010: 17: 38-56 PA

Sanger T, Chen D, Fehlings D, Hallett M, Lang A, Mink J, Singer H, Alter K, Ben-Pazi H, Butler E, Chen R, Collins A, Damiano D, Dayanidhi S, Forssberg H, Fowler E, Gilbert D, Gorman S, Gormley M, Jinnah H, Kornblau B, Krosschell K, Lehman R, MacKinnon C, Malanga C, Mesterman R, Michaels M, Pearson T, Rose J, Russman B, Sternad D, Swoboda K, Valero-Cuevas F: Definition and classification of hyperkinetic movements in childhood.  Movement Disorders 2010: 25(11): 1538-49 CPA

Fehlings D, Switzer L, Agarwal P, Wong C, Sochett E, Stevenson R, Sonnenberg L, Smile S, Young E, Huber J, Milo-Manson G, Abu Kuwaik G, Gaebler D: Informing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for children with cerebral palsy at risk of osteoporosis: a systematic review. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 2011: (in press). SRI

Contact Information:
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
150 Kilgour Road
Toronto, Ontario M4G 1R8
Tel: 416-425-6220, extension 3586

E-mail: dfehlings (at) hollandbloorview (dot) ca *(see Note below)

*Note: Copy the above e-mail address into the To field of your e-mail message and reconstruct the e-mail address by removing the spaces and replacing the “at” and “dot” with the proper symbols (@ and .) respectively.

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