The computer contained data on how the brain develops in babies up to a year old.

It was considered extremely important in helping doctors understand the mechanisms of the disease.

On Friday, the researchers appealed for the return of the data.

The lap-top was stolen from the laboratories of the Department of Anatomy.

The tragedy is these experiments may just never be repeated

Student doctor Kyle Mitchell

Student doctor Kyle Mitchell, 23, who gained a first class honours degree for his report on the preliminary findings said: "Cerebral palsy is one of the most common diseases of early childhood. "Yet despite its prevalence, we understand so little of the mechanisms behind the disease and very little about how the nervous system develops.

"This project is going to make a real difference.

Babies' brains

"Few centres in the world have the expertise both to make and to interpret these results.

"The tragedy is these experiments may just never be repeated."

The experiments had involved families who allowed the researchers to regularly record their babies' brain waves.