Noelle G. Moreau, PhD, PT receives Gayle G. Arnold Award for Best Scientific Paper 2025

November 4, 2025

LSU Health New Orleans School of Allied Health’s Noelle G. Moreau, Ph.D., PT has received the Gayle G. Arnold Award for the Best Scientific Paper 2025 at the 79th Annual Meeting of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM). Bestowed on October 18 in New Orleans, this is the most prestigious award of the Academy.

Dr. Moreau’s research focuses on the investigation of the neuromuscular mechanisms underlying abnormal muscle function and movement impairments in children with cerebral palsy using techniques such as ultrasound imaging, dynamometry and electromyography. Her overarching goal is the development of effective rehabilitation strategies to address these impairments and improve activity, participation and quality of life. She has successfully led multiple clinical trials involving rehabilitation interventions for children with CP. She has been awarded two NIH funded multi-site clinical trials to examine the effects of lower extremity power training combined with interval treadmill training (PT3) in pre-adolescents and adolescents with CP (R01 HD091089) and to examine the effects of high intensity treadmill training for children with CP (R01 HD098270).

Dr. Moreau’s presentation of “Effects of Power Training Combined with lnterval Treadmill Training on Walking Capacity Versus Performance in Real World Settings in Youth with Cerebral Palsy” reflects her valuable contribution to the CP community.

“I am extremely honored to receive this award from the AACPDM for this important work for children with cerebral palsy. The completion of this clinical trial was a testament to the perseverance of our research team through the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous hurricanes and other natural disasters. The theme of the AACPDM annual conference this year was “Resilience” and that is what this award symbolizes to me,” said Dr. Moreau.

Her current research also focuses on capturing the microscopic to macroscopic neuromuscular adaptations to high-intensity interventions for children with CP to maximize muscle plasticity and the association adaptations in gene expression at the level of the individual.

Dr. Moreau is Associate Dean for Research and professor with tenure of Physical Therapy with LSU Health New Orleans School of Allied Health Professions. She received her Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University A&M in 2007 and Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from LSU Medical Center Shreveport in 1996. Each year the top 10 abstract submissions are nominated for the Gayle G Arnold Award for Best Scientific Paper. This is her fourth time as a nominee in the top 10 and first time receiving the award.

“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Noelle Moreau for receiving the Gayle G. Arnold Award for Best Scientific Paper at the 2025 AACPDM Annual Meeting,” says Dr. Erin Dugan, dean of LSU Health New Orleans School of Allied Health Professions. “This prestigious recognition reflects the depth, rigor and impact of her research in advancing rehabilitation strategies for children with cerebral palsy. Her work exemplifies our School’s commitment to elevating educational excellence and research innovation, a core goal of our strategic plan. Dr. Moreau’s dedication to improving lives through science continues to inspire our faculty, students and the broader clinical community.”

For more information on research and services of the LSU Health New Orleans School of Allied Health, visit alliedhealth.lsuhsc.edu.

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About LSU Health New Orleans
LSU Health New Orleans educates Louisiana's health care professionals. The state's health sciences university leader, LSU Health New Orleans includes a School of Medicine with campuses in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, the state's only School of Dentistry, Louisiana's only public School of Public Health and Schools of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Graduate Studies. LSU Health New Orleans faculty take care of patients in hospitals and clinics throughout the region. In the vanguard of biosciences research, the LSU Health New Orleans research enterprise generates jobs and enormous annual economic impact. LSU Health New Orleans faculty have made lifesaving discoveries and continue to work to prevent, advance treatment   and cure disease.