Iona Novak

Professor Iona Novak holds the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Chair of Allied Health at the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Medicine and Health, affiliated with the Brain and Mind Centre. She leads global research on cerebral palsy interventions, including neuroprotective clinical trials, stem cell research, and knowledge translation. Her work focuses on early diagnosis, motor rehabilitation, and translational research networks like the Australian-American Stem Cell Clinical Trials (Xcellerate). Professor Novak co-founded the Australian Cerebral Palsy Register, the largest national database of its kind, and chairs international clinical guidelines for cerebral palsy.

Her research spans clinical trials (e.g., RCTs on stem cells, motor training), big data analytics, and implementation science. Notable achievements include changing clinical practices in 27 countries and establishing the KiTE CP initiative for early diagnosis screening. She has secured multiple competitive grants, including Centre of Excellence funding.

Awards include the Elsass Foundation Prize, Top 100 Women of Influence (2019), and Fulbright Scholar (2013-2015). She collaborates internationally with institutions like the CanChild Centre (McMaster University) and UCSF. Current research includes the GAME trial for infant neuroprotection and the ACTIVE STRIDES-CP study on intensive rehabilitation.

Her advisory roles include scientific advisorships at Columbia University and the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy. She mentors students like Kristian BUDINI and leads projects on feeding therapy and early motor intervention. Her work bridges clinical practice and cutting-edge therapies, emphasizing evidence-based care and global impact.