Prof. Dr. Hilde Feys 

Hilde Feys is a full professor at the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven. Her main research line involves translational studies investigating neural correlates of sensorimotor behavior and mechanisms of neuroplasticity, relevant for innovation and refinement of rehabilitation interventions in children with cerebral palsy. Hereto, she uses state-of-the-art technology including brain imaging and non-invasive brain stimulation as well as clinical and objective methodologies developed over the past years. Moreover, she gained a large experience in examining the effects of upper limb interventions, also implemented in an intensive camp-model. Her research is set-up in close collaboration with the Cerebral Palsy Reference Centre of the University Hospitals Leuven. 

 

Links 

University Profile

Bibliography 

 

Selected Publications

Crotti, M., Itzhak, N. B., Mailleux, L., Kleeren, L., Decraene, L., Leenaerts, N., Lubián-Gutiérrez, M., Feys, H., & Ortibus, E. (2026). Seeing the Unseen: The Neurodevelopmental Factors Related to Visual Impairments in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy. Pediatric Neurology, 178, 15–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2026.01.023

De Luca, G., Kalkantzi, A., Mailleux, L., Palomo-Carrión, R., Feys, H., Boyd, R. N., Beani, E., Cianchetti, M., Filogna, S., Prencipe, G., Sgandurra, G., & Maselli, M. (2025). A Holistic Approach Towards Evaluating Upper Limb Function in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Narrative Review of Clinical Tools and Promising Technologies for Comprehensive Assessment. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(18), 6539. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14186539

Bieber, E., Smits‐Engelsman, B., Sgandurra, G., Martini, G., Basu, A., Guzzetta, A., Cioni, G., Feys, H., & Klingels, K. (2025). Manual Dexterity Abilities and Dual Tasking in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder and Typically Developing Children. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 82(2), 146-160. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.70051

Kleeren, L., Mailleux, L., Crotti, M., Decraene, L., Verheyden, G., Lambercy, O., Ortibus, E., Van Campenhout, A., Feys, H., & Klingels, K.. (2025). Unraveling tactile and proprioceptive upper limb function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: a combination of robotic and clinical assessments. Disability and Rehabilitation, 48(5), 1369-1390. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2025.2556944

Kleeren, L., Mailleux, L., McLean, B., Elliott, C., Dequeker, G., Van Campenhout, A., Orban de Xivry, J.-J., Verheyden, G., Ortibus, E., Klingels, K., & Feys, H. (2024). Does somatosensory discrimination therapy alter sensorimotor upper limb function differently compared to motor therapy in children and adolescents with unilateral cerebral palsy: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 25(1), 147. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-024-07967-4