Last week, INFANT postdoctoral researcher Dr Elaine McCarthy was presented with her British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) Drummond Early Career Scientist Runner-up Award in London.

Earlier this year, the BNF announced the recipients of the 2019 BNF Drummond Early Career Scientist Award – recognising early career excellence in nutrition science.

Elaine has been recognised for her work in the field of paediatric and neonatal nutrition, with iron nutrition in young children being the focus of much of her research.

The BNF Drummond Early Career Scientist Award is an annual scheme run by the BNF. Applicants are judged on their contributions to nutrition science to date, their potential to become future leaders in the field, and the scientific merit and clarity of communication in their work.

Elaine’s invited review entitled “the neonatal period: a missed opportunity for the prevention of iron deficiency and its associated neurological consequences?” is now published in the Nutrition Bulletin.

Well done Elaine!

INFANT wins 2^nd national award for digital diagnostics research – AI powered decision support tool to identify brain seizures in newborns recognised.

INFANT was named winner of ‘The Best Application of AI in an Academic Research Body.

INFANT PhD student Alison O’ Shea and the INFANT Engineering team were recognised for their use of AI to diagnose brain injury in infants. The team has developed an algorithm that detects seizures in newborns and alerts the healthcare team that the baby may need some additional support.  Currently, seizure detection is only possible through analysing EEG and under normal neonatal intensive care conditions, less than 10% of seizures are detected.

Now in its second year, the AI Awards are run by AI Ireland, a non-profit business with backing from Microsoft Ireland and Alldus International.

Congratulations to the AI Ireland team, sponsors, nominees and awardees on such a successful event.

PRESS RELEASE

Newborns who suffer mild oxygen deprivation impacted in later life

Research raises questions about the current medical approach during birth

Babies who suffer mild oxygen deprivation at birth have impaired cognitive outcomes compared to children with uneventful deliveries, joint Irish and Swedish research reveals today.

Lack of oxygen to the newborn brain affects almost 200 babies in Ireland each year and results in death or disability in over 1 million infants each year globally. The condition, known as Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE), causes brain injury due to lack of oxygen and can leave newborns with permanent neurological damage or cerebral palsy.

Researchers at the Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT) at University College Cork (UCC), along with colleagues at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden joined together to examine the outcome in a large number of babies with this condition.

Combining data from infants in Cork and Stockholm, this study found that a significant number of children who suffer mild HIE at birth have impaired cognitive outcomes compared to children with uneventful deliveries. These early delays can herald learning or behavioural difficulties which become more significant over time.

HIE in children is graded as mild, moderate and severe. The only proven treatment for HIE is Therapeutic Hypothermia (known as cooling therapy) if introduced within the first six hours of birth. Cooling reduces the risk of death and disability in infants with moderate to severe HIE. Randomized controlled trials of cooling to date have not included infants with mild HIE due to a perceived good prognosis.

This research today raises the question as to whether these babies should be treated at birth with cooling therapy. Currently, worldwide, this therapy is reserved for babies with more severe degrees of HIE.

This study analysed data from 471 children recruited to research studies in Cork and Stockholm between 2007-2015. The study found that children with mild HIE at birth have significantly lower cognitive composite scores than children with uneventful deliveries when measured with the Bayley Scales of Toddler and Infant Development 3rd edition (BSITD-III) at 2-3 years.

The findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics highlights the need for clinical trials of neuroprotective therapies to include children with mild HIE.

INFANT Principal Investigator, UCC Professor Deirdre Murray is Head of Paediatrics and Child Health at Cork University Hospital and leads research in the area of HIE and perinatal asphyxia.

Speaking about the findings Prof Murray said, “The results from this study are significant. In 471 children recruited across two different countries, we saw the same pattern. At present, doctors who care for these newborns do not know whether to treat them or not. No trials have studied effects in these infants with milder injury. Our study has shown that their development at 2 years is significantly lower than expected. A large, adequately powered trial is urgently needed to answer this question and to guide doctors in their care of infants with mild HIE.”

The study was supported by funding from the Health Research Board, Science Foundation Ireland and the Wellcome Trust.

Read the full publication here.

New research by INFANT researcher, Dr Elaine McCarthy and INFANT PI Prof Mairead Kiely has been published in leading nutrition research journal, Nutrition Bulletin.

Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide. Iron is essential for the development of multiple organ systems, most especially the developing brain.

Iron deficiency, particularly during sensitive periods of brain development, such as in early childhood, is associated with long‐lasting adverse consequences for cognition, motor function and behaviour. Little consideration has been given to iron deficiency in newborn infants and its potential health consequences.

The team highlighted potential strategies for the prevention of neonatal iron deficiency and its long-term health consequences.

READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nbu.12407