Courtney Dunn, PT, DPT, is a Physical Therapist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and became the lead physical therapist for the NF Clinical Program at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in 2010. Dr. Dunn applies her expertise to identify developmental delays in young children with NF1 and was instrumental in the establishment of Club NF, a […]
Month: March 2014
Nicole’s Nook: Limiting Your Child’s iPad Time
The iPad can be useful, educational and, of course, entertaining. Sometimes it is so entertaining that some children have a hard time quitting an app or moving onto something else. Obviously, this can be a detriment to productivity, but luckily the iPad comes equipped with some practical functions to help address this common problem. Before […]
New Study Uses the Fruit-Fly to Understand NF2 Gene Function
Investigators at the University of Chicago employed the common house fly (Drosophila) as a model system for determining how genetic mutations in the neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) gene disrupt its function. Dr. Richard Fehon and his colleagues, including David H. Gutmann, MD, PhD at the Washington University NF Center, used Drosophila to test whether the […]
Spring has Sprung!: Therapy Activities for Spring
Today is the first day of Spring! Celebrate by getting outside and playing together. Here are some great Springtime activities that can help your child work on skills often delayed in children with NF1. Play with balls Catching, batting, throwing a ball into a basket, bouncing a ball–anything you can think of! All are great […]
iPad App Therapy Clinic Launched!
Some children with NF1 experience developmental delays that can make some aspects of school and everyday life difficult. One way to address these issues is to use technology, such as the iPad, to enable access to alternative opportunities for education and personal growth. But how can you learn about everything the iPad can afford your […]
Symposium Sneak Peek: Dr. Jonathan Epstein Discusses New Models of NF1-associated heart defects
Dr. Epstein is currently the William Wikoff Smith Chair in Cardiovascular Research, Chairman of the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology and the Scientific Director of the Pennsylvania University Cardiovascular Institute. Dr. Epstein’s research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular development. His group has been at the forefront of determining genetic and molecular pathways […]
Courtney’s Corner: Learning to Ride a Bike
The weather is finally starting to warm up and Spring is right around the corner! That means it’s time to start thinking about outdoor activities like riding bikes. Learning to ride a bike can be challenging for any child, but it might be especially frustrating for children with NF1. Children with NF1 tend to experience […]
Washington University NF Center Researchers Define Measures for Evaluating Low Tone Muscle in Children with NF1
Nearly half of all children with NF1 have low tone (hypotonia). A recent study at the Washington University NF Center suggested that children with both NF1 and hypotonia may be at greater risk for developing a brain tumor. However, there are few objective methods for evaluating hypotonia. To address this need, Courtney Dunn, PT DPT, […]
Washington University NF Center Spring 2014 Newsletter
Check out our Spring 2014 newsletter! Inside this issue: Gender Influences Symptoms of NF1 Toddlers Show Progress After Beat NF Get Involved in Research And More! Check out our previous newsletters as well!
SAVE THE DATE: Club NF Rocks!
The Washington University NF Center in collaboration with the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation is excited to announce its April 2014 Club NF event – Club NF Rocks! Please join us at Climb So iLL in downtown St. Louis on April 5, 2014 for indoor rock climbing. We will be focusing on strength, motor planning and […]