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Research by Utley and colleagues at the University of Leeds, which examined ways of identifying, diagnosing and assessing Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) in children, led to an elaboration of the working definition of the condition - the Leeds Consensus Statement. Compared to other developmental disorders and impairments, DCD has been poorly understood with the previous diagnostic criteria causing confusion amongst clinicians and practitioners. The 2006 consensus statement provided a new universal standard in the diagnosis and assessment of DCD, together with clear principles to guide intervention. Its impact from 2008 onwards can be demonstrated through educational and health clinicians and practitioners across the world adopting the new standard and using it to diagnose DCD. Worldwide 4-6% of children born have DCD, since 2006 this is identified by the Leeds Consensus Statement.
The Movement ABC-2 Test is internationally recognised as `the gold standard' for identifying children with motor difficulties. Prof Anna Barnett's revision and development has provided health and education professionals with a reliable assessment tool, improving the support for children and their families. This test is recommended in the latest European guidelines on Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) — a condition recognised as having a major impact on the lives of children — and has also been translated into several languages for global use. The parallel development of specific tests for handwriting (DASH and DASH17+) for children and adults has provided clinicians and teachers with the tools to help support students with their class work and written examinations.
The `Clinical Kinematic Assessment Tool' (CKAT) is an innovative system that detects the 5% of children with motor control problems who, as a result, experience academic and social disadvantage — which increases the likelihood of educational difficulties, anxiety and depression. CKAT's development is led by Mon-Williams at the University of Leeds (UoL), in partnership with the University of Aberdeen. Since 2012, CKAT has been used in 88 primary schools in Bradford. All Reception Year children (aged 4-5 years) are CKAT screened (~4,000 children annually) with teachers using this information to prompt further assessment and additional classroom support. CKAT is now being commercialised via a licensing deal (2012) with a Scottish SME.
Research examining the best ways of identifying and diagnosing motor impairment in children has established a universal standard of assessment: the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC). Co-authored by Sugden (University of Leeds), a complete new edition was developed in 2007. The second edition contains a new standardised test of motor impairment, a new criterion referenced checklist and a new intervention manual based on participation and learning, all informed by the authors' theoretical, empirical and professional research. The MABC is used in educational, health, and psychological services globally to provide detailed and accurate profiling of children 3 - 16 years, and through assessing children's motor skills and providing guidelines for intervention, it is used to determine strategies across the world to improve participation in activities in daily living for children with movement difficulties.
Our research has had substantial impact on the mental health and welfare of children with suspected autistic disorders, on their education, on the well-being of their families, and on the activities of healthcare professionals and their services for children in both paediatric and psychiatric practice. We developed a new diagnostic test for autistic spectrum disorders, which allows for better, more reliable diagnosis of these conditions. The test has been included in healthcare guidelines and professional standards in the UK and many other countries around the world, including influencing the revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5).
Research led by Bradley, Watson and Pettigrew (Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge) since 2000 has improved patient access to renal transplantation significantly, changed UK kidney transplant policy radically, and informed policy internationally. Their findings have increased considerably the use of kidneys (and other organs) from circulatory death donors (DCD), including those with extended time to cardio-respiratory arrest, and primary brain malignancy. Their randomised trial of machine perfusion for DCD kidneys has informed NICE guidance, while their analysis of factors that determine transplant outcome in recipients of DCD kidneys has informed national guidance for DCD kidney retrieval and organ allocation policy at NHS Blood and Transplant.