Brain injury in newborn babies, sometimes caused by a lack of oxygen around the time of birth, can result in cerebral palsy, mental retardation, learning disabilities and epilepsy.
Research using “state of the art” bedside EEG tools and new advanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques is helping to define the timing and nature of newborn brain injury and assess emerging new therapies to reduce the effects of such injury on babies long term growth and development.
In Ireland approximately 300 babies are affected by significant brain injury each year with approximately 50 babies suffering brain injury resulting in death or severe disability. As the leading centre for neonatal care for the South of Ireland, caring for approximately 800 newborns annually, the newly designed Neonatal Unit at Cork University Maternity Hospital, linked to Cork University Hospital (one of Irelands largest academic teaching hospitals) is uniquely placed to facilitate clinical research to help these babies and learn how we, and others, can improve the way we care for them and increase their chances of healthy survival.
Seizures or ‘fits’ are often the first sign of brain injury in babies and require urgent treatment. Unfortunately because of the immaturity of the newborn brain, these seizures are often difficult to identify. The development of a highly specific, automated newborn brain injury detection system that is easy to operate, simple to interpret and reliable is the focus of our research group at UCC. By incorporating the accurate identification of these babies with brain injury using sophisticated bedside EEG systems, advanced MR imaging techniques and careful neurological assessment, we hope to learn what these changes on EEG and MRI mean for the long term development of the baby. Such information assists in providing prognostic information for families and supporting ‘at risk’ babies from the outset which will optimise their growth and development.