Roslyn Boyd

Professor Roslyn Boyd serves as Scientific Director of the Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre (QCPRRC) at the University of Queensland's School of Medicine. She leads a substantial multidisciplinary team of 38 researchers and provides clinical research leadership to 60 clinicians across the Queensland Paediatric Rehabilitation Service based at the Queensland Children's Hospital. As an NHMRC Leadership Fellow, Professor Boyd has established herself as an internationally recognized expert in cerebral palsy research and rehabilitation.

Professor Boyd completed her primary training as a physiotherapist in Australia and London before earning her PhD in neuroscience at La Trobe University, the Brain Research Institute, and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne, for which she received the Premier's Commendation from the Victorian Government. She joined the University of Queensland in 2007 as a Smart State Fellowship recipient and has since led major research initiatives including an EBrain program grant funded by the Queensland Government Department of Innovation.

Her research program focuses on three critical areas: the early natural history of motor and brain development in preschool children with cerebral palsy, novel rehabilitation approaches for children with hemiplegia, and early detection and intervention for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy. These research streams, all funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, employ advanced brain imaging techniques including functional imaging, Diffusion Imaging, and Functional Connectivity to assess neuroplasticity changes resulting from therapeutic interventions. Her work bridges neuroscience, rehabilitation science, and clinical practice to develop evidence-based approaches that improve outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental conditions.

Professor Boyd's extensive publication record of over 340 peer-reviewed manuscripts demonstrates a consistent focus on improving assessment methods, intervention efficacy, and early detection strategies for cerebral palsy. Her research spans from basic neuroscience investigations to large-scale clinical trials and implementation studies, creating a comprehensive evidence base that informs clinical practice worldwide. The publications reveal a growing emphasis on early intervention, neuroimaging biomarkers, and family-centered approaches to rehabilitation.

Professor Boyd has received significant recognition for her contributions to the field, most notably the prestigious Gayle Arnold Award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, which she has received three times. This repeated honor underscores her international standing and the impact of her research on clinical practice. As an NHMRC Leadership Fellow, she represents the highest tier of Australian health and medical researchers.

Through her leadership of major research programs and collaborations, Professor Boyd has secured over $40 million in research funding, enabling large-scale projects that directly impact clinical practice. Her work with multidisciplinary teams has produced evidence that informs clinical guidelines and treatment approaches used by healthcare professionals globally. She actively mentors junior researchers and clinicians, fostering the next generation of experts in pediatric rehabilitation.

The Queensland Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation and Research Centre, under Professor Boyd's direction, serves as a vital hub for translational research, connecting scientific discovery with clinical application. The center's work with the Centre for Extracellular Vesicle Nanomedicine demonstrates interdisciplinary reach beyond traditional cerebral palsy research, exploring innovative approaches to understanding and treating neurodevelopmental conditions.