News2021-11-05T07:56:36+00:00

INFANT Centre News

Stryker raise funds for INFANT

Monday 16 September 2019 A special thank-you to Marcus, Steven and all the team at Stryker who kindly donated €1, 231 from a recent fundraising event. The event in question was a penalty shoot-out, and by all accounts, was highly competitive! When asked why the team chose INFANT as the lucky recipient of the funds, Steven explained: "A number of staff, myself included, have had premature babies who spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit in CUMH and experienced first hand the great work that the INFANT Research Centre is doing". Stryker's contribution will allow the centre to purchase new equipment for the NICU, enabling us to continue our research for the most vulnerable in our society. Thanks again to all involved. For further information on how you can support INFANT please contact Ms Eimear Keohane via email eimear.keohane@ucc.ie or by phone +353 21 4205409.

By |September 16th, 2019|Categories: Uncategorised|0 Comments

INFANT researchers ‘Stand up for Science’

Monday 09 September 2019 Last Friday, INFANT had the pleasure of hosting Cork's first ever 'Standing up for Science' workshop. Standing up for Science is a programme created by the team at Sense about Science, a charity empowering the public to critically analyse evidence supporting scientific claims and discoveries. Over 45 Early Career Researchers from across UCC heard from various experts on how to effectively stand up for science and communicate their work to journalists, policy makers, and the general public. The day began with Fiona Malone, a postdoctoral researcher from GMIT and UCC researchers Prof Alan Kelly and Dr Emmanuelle Schon-Quinlivan sharing their experiences of engaging with the media and the public. Next up, Sean Sherlock TD, Prof Brian O Gallachoir, MaREI Centre Director and Dulce Boavida, Chief Scientific Advisor at the European Commission provided their insight and explained how exactly evidence is used in policy and how best to contact your local government representative to get your voice heard. After lunch, The Echo reported  Darragh Bermingham and 96FM newsreader Pearse McCarthy gave an entertaining "insider perspective" on how journalists report science in an era of fake news. The final session of the day involved an honest group discussion on how researchers can take responsibility for the public discussion of science and evidence from the beginning of their careers. The Sense about Science team encouraged the researchers to stand up [...]

By |September 9th, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT PhD student making science accessible to all

Thursday 22 August 2019 Last November, Our PhD researcher, Sonia Lenehan, was voted the winner of Neon Zone’s I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here! Sonia won €500 to be used for a public engagement project of her choice. I’m a Scientist is an online STEM engagement event where students chatted and interacted with scientists through online chats and forums. The students then voted for their favourite scientist. Keep reading for an update on what Sonia has been up to! Pictured: Sonia and her workshop participants. I have always loved science and am a firm believer that everyone should do science for a few years so that they have a basic understanding of how their body works and how the world around them works. As I grew older, I realised that some people were not being given this chance simply because they had a disability. From personal experience, I know that children with sight loss were told that they were not able to do science because of their disability. Unfortunately, children with disabilities are often excluded from subjects in school because of their disability rather than their ability. I have always wanted to do something about this because I believe with a little imagination on our parts - and some funding - we can develop a school system that is inclusive of everyone and is a better learning environment [...]

By |August 22nd, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

Interview with Dr Chris Schwarz

Wednesday 14 August 2019 Christoph Schwarz has recently joined INFANT as a visiting clinical research fellow. Get to know him a bit better! Background I’m a Paediatrician and Neonatologist from Tuebingen in Germany where  I did my training at the University of Tuebingen in Germany – in a very old nice university city like UCC and Cork, actually. I was an attending neonatologist at a large paediatric department there for the past year. My job there had quite a clinical focus with some research, but I felt that research should have a bigger role in my life. I love neonatology as it incorporates the senses a lot in medicine such as feeling, hearing, seeing, touching. The baby is born with minimal medical history with decisions frequently made based on clinical examinations and experience. I hope to return to clinical work again in the near future once I have gained further experience in research  and research techniques. The road to INFANT I decided that I wanted to focus on research for the next few years. With two small children now, myself and my wife decided that the time was right to gain experience in another country.  Moving to another country would be an interesting life experience while allowing us to improve our language skills. It will also help me professionally and ultimately become an independent researcher. [...]

By |August 14th, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT research links kidney failure to pre-eclampsia

Tuesday 30 July 2019 INFANT research finds pre-eclampsia increases risk of kidney disease. Women with pre-eclampsia during pregnancy have a five-fold increased risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) later in life compared to women who don’t develop pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, according to a new study. Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication that causes high blood pressure and protein in the urine. The study by INFANT Investigator Dr Ali Khashan and colleagues at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden and Liverpool University, UK, was published this week in PLOS Medicine.  "This research demonstrates that again, complicated pregnancies may have long-standing adverse effects on maternal health. Pre-eclampsia increases the risk of end-stage kidney disease in mothers, however, the risk remains small. Future research needs to focus on modifiable risk factors and how we may monitor and screen women after complicated pregnancies to reduce these long term risks and improve long term health," said Dr Khashan. As the prevalence of kidney disease has risen over recent years, it has become clear that more women have pre-dialysis kidney disease than men. Reproductive history, including the development of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, has been hypothesized to play a role. In the new study, researchers analysed data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register. The data revealed that women who had pre-eclampsia in at least one pregnancy were nearly five times more likely to have ESKD than women [...]

By |July 30th, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

Honorary Doctorate for INFANT Ambassador & Supporter

Monday 24 June 2019 One of INFANTs biggest supporters was among those conferred with an honorary doctorate at UCC earlier this month. The conferment of an honorary degree is one of the highest honours bestowed on and received by a person in Ireland. Honorary graduates are selected carefully to recognise outstanding distinction in their chosen field including the arts, business, science, technology, sport and service to society. UCC alumnus Daragh Horgan, a financier, explorer and philanthropist, was conferred with a degree of Doctor of Laws. Daragh, together with his wife Anne, has a long history of giving to UCC across a range of disciplines all governed by their philosophy of enabling through education and research. In recognition of the work being conducted by INFANT and the difference it is making to people’s lives, they have recently facilitated the establishment of a Chair in Neonatology and the construction of the new paediatric academic unit at the INFANT Centre in Cork University Hospital. Daragh’s impactful philanthropic intervention has enabled INFANT to continue to tackle the many challenges and complications of pregnancy, early life, and childhood and is playing a key role in leveraging additional investment. Philanthropic support such as this is critical to retain excellence in research and teaching and to advance the frontiers of knowledge to improve outcomes for patients. For further details please contact Ms [...]

By |June 24th, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

Fulbright Award Success for INFANT PI

Tuesday 18 June 2019 The Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Niall Burgess and Chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Ireland, Mr Reece Smyth, are pleased to announce 36 Fulbright Irish Awardees for 2019-2020. Recipients were presented with Awards at a ceremony in Dublin Castle on Friday. Academics, professionals and students from 13 HEIs and organisations in Ireland will go to 30 leading U.S. institutions to study and collaborate with experts in their fields. This year’s Fulbright recipients are from disciplines spanning technology, science, language, medicine and the arts. The Fulbright Awards celebrate diversity across topics, geography and backgrounds. Increased funding from both the Irish and U.S. Governments has allowed the Fulbright Commission in Ireland to support a wider range and number of exciting study and research awardees than ever before. INFANT Principal Investigator Professor Jonathan Hourihane was the only Fulbright Awardee from UCC. Jonathan's primary area of clinical and research interest is in paediatric food allergy and anaphylaxis. He is co-Principal Investigator of the BASELINE, Ireland’s only birth cohort study (www.baselinestudy.net.), a board member of the National Children’s Research Centre and a founding Board member of the Clemens von Pirquet Foundation and of the Irish Food Allergy Network (www.ifan.ie). He is current President of the Irish Association of Allergy and Immunology. Jonathan will undertake his Fulbright-HRB Health Impact Scholar Award at [...]

By |June 18th, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT hosts HRB NEPTuNE Study Day

Thursday 13 June 2019 Guest post by Beth Corcoran INFANT was host to HRB NEPTuNE’s third Study Day last Thursday June 6th. Scholars, Tim Hurley, Megan Dibble and Chelo del Rosario travelled to Cork to participate in the day’s workshops and presentations. As always, our Study Day schedule aspires to provide our scholars with an exciting and challenging series of workshops; to give them insight into each other's disciplines, and to provide them with additional skills, both technical and transferable, that will support and enhance their research. The day began with a CASTOR Software training workshop hosted by Mike Cunneen and Mairead Murray. This workshop was timely for the scholars as they are beginning to collate and organise their research data. All scholars had been sent ‘prep work’ in advance of the Study Day which enabled them to get the most out of the day. Mike’s workshop provided them with excellent examples and support resources, and he will provide answers to future questions when necessary! After a quick lunch, our scholars gave their individual project presentations. Fiona Quirke dialled in from Galway to join this session and to make her own project presentation. Each scholar provided an insight into the progress of their research. Professors Geraldine Boylan, Eleanor Molloy and Declan Devane had questions and feedback for each of the scholars. We were also very [...]

By |June 13th, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT PI raising funds for vital equipment & training in Tanzania

Tuesday 07 May 2019 Newborn babies in Tanzania die at a rate of 40 per 1000, a shocking 4% of all births. INFANT PI, Dr Deirdre Murray is raising money to send experienced nurses and doctors from Cork University Hospital to spend time with the staff in Kilimanjaro and to work with them to provide basic equipment for newborn care. We are looking for donations, no matter how large or small to help us achieve this goal! Visit the Go Fund Me page   Almost €40,000 has already been raised for bubble CPAP machines, oxygen monitors, and resuscitation training for staff in Kilimanjaro. With your help we can raise money for phototherapy to treat jaundice and arrange further nursing staff to work with local midwives in helping to look after babies at birth. Raising funds for vital NICU equipment in Kilimanjaro Recently a team from INFANT travelled to the Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute in Moshi, Northern Tanzania. Our centre’s Global Health Program is committed to translating the centre’s innovations into affordable, accessible interventions in countries where the clinical need is greatest and will have the highest impact. In 2016, INFANT signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute (KCRI), the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), and the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUC) establishing a collaborative research partnership in a number of scientific and [...]

By |May 7th, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

New website to support families grieving the loss of a baby

Monday 15 April 2019 Launched today pregnancyandinfantloss.ie is a first-of-its-kind website for Ireland. A valuable resource for parents who experience pregnancy loss or perinatal death, the website provides accurate and accessible information on a sensitive and often stigmatised subject, shares the latest research into the causes of baby loss, promotes emotional well-being, and offers details on how to access the appropriate support services. “The website is a step forward in our commitment to consistent quality care for parents, as well as education and support for maternity staff while raising awareness of pregnancy loss and recognising its wide impact,” said Dr Keelin O’Donoghue, Consultant Obstetrician at Cork University Maternity Hospital and Principal Investigator at INFANT, Ireland’s only dedicated perinatal research centre. Dr O’Donoghue and her team at INFANT, UCC, are leading investigations into the causes of pregnancy loss and perinatal death. Pictured: Riona Cotter and Dr Keelin O'Donoghue Supported by funding from the Irish Hospice Foundation, the website is an initiative of the Implementation Group for the National Standards for Bereavement Care Following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death. The programme of implementation of the Standards was led by Dr O’Donoghue and HSE Programme Manager Riona Cotter. The Standards, launched in August 2016, defined the care parents and families should receive following a pregnancy loss or perinatal death in all Irish maternity hospitals. “This is an example of the excellent resources available [...]

By |April 15th, 2019|Categories: News|Comments Off on New website to support families grieving the loss of a baby

INFANT postdoc recognised by the British Nutrition Foundation

Monday 01 April 2019 The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) has announced the recipients of the 2019 BNF Drummond Early Career Scientist Award – recognising early career excellence in nutrition science. Our postdoctoral researcher Dr Elaine McCarthy received the runner-up title. 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. Well done Elaine!  

By |April 1st, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT PhD Student wins Pfizer‐SRI President’s Presenter’s Award

Tuesday 19 March 2019 Congratulations to our PhD researcher Gillian Maher who was selected for the Pfizer-SRI President's Presenter's Award. She received the award at the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI) 66th Annual Scientific Meeting in Paris, last week. Gillian's presentation at the meeting was titled 'Association between Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Population-Based Study'. The award was established to recognize the 25 most exemplary oral abstracts submitted by individuals still in training. INFANT was well represented at the conference. INFANT investigators Dr Fergus McCarthy and Dr Ali Khashan, along with PhD students were also in attendance; presenting an impressive seven posters and two oral presentations.

By |March 19th, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT PI leads National Bereavement Standards in Maternity Services

Pregnancy loss, in the form of early or late miscarriage, or stillbirth, neonatal or infant death, occurs in 20-25% of pregnancies and is the most common complication of pregnancy. Dealing with the loss of a baby or pregnancy is a very difficult time for parents and families and providing bereavement care is an integral part of any maternity service. Led by INFANT PI Dr Keelin O’Donoghue and with significant input from the INFANT/CUMH Pregnancy Loss Research Group, the accumulation of two year’s work on the HSE National Standards for Bereavement Care Following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death was presented to 130 attendees at the Bereavement Forum at University College Cork last Saturday.   Members of the Pregnancy Loss Research Group, comprising staff from INFANT, UCC College of Medicine and Health and the National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre Dr Keelin O Donoghue, INFANT PI and Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, CUMH pictured with HSE programme manager Riona Cotter. The HSE National Standards for Bereavement Care Following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death was implemented to enhance bereavement care services for parents who experience a pregnancy loss or perinatal death. Used as a resource for both parents and professionals – it provides the template for maternity units to develop a compassionate, caring service for parents who lose a baby due to miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death. Speaking on [...]

By |March 6th, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT celebrates Engineers Week 2019

Monday 04 March 2019 The INFANT centre is made up of world-leading researchers from a variety of disciplines. Our engineers are involved in various research projects and their highly acclaimed work has been widely recognised. Our engineers are working collaboratively with a number of academic and industry partners from all over the world to improve the health of mothers and babies and to prevent poor outcomes. We asked them to tell us a little about the projects they are working on and what excites them about their role.  

By |March 4th, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT takes to the stage at FameLab Cork

Friday 01 March 2019 Held annually in over 30 countries across the globe, FameLab is the world's largest science communication competition. The Cork event took place at Triskel Arts Centre on Wednesday night. Armed only with their wits and a few props, the newest voices from the world of science and engineering across the county delivered short 3-minute presentations on a range of science topics. Representing INFANT, PhD student Sam Manna presented a fun and engaging talk on 'Anti-Ageing 101'. Well done Sam and to everyone involved.

By |March 1st, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT strengthens Tanzanian partnership

Thursday 28 February 2019 A team from INFANT travel to Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute in Moshi, Northern Tanzania this week. As Ireland’s first and only perinatal research centre, INFANT is focussed on making pregnancy safer and improving health outcomes for mothers and babies worldwide. In particular, the centre’s Global Health Program is committed to translating the centre’s innovations into affordable, accessible interventions in countries where the clinical need is greatest and will have the highest impact. In 2016, INFANT signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute (KCRI), the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), and the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUC) establishing a collaborative research partnership in a number of scientific and clinical areas. Mike Cuneen, INFANT Software Developer presenting the new cloud-based birth registry to KCMC clinicians. This partnership is currently working on a project to enhance the KCMC birth registry. Birth registry data is a vital source of information for healthcare providers, funders and policy makers as it contains data on maternal and infant outcomes from each baby born every year. INFANT engineers and software developers initiated and developed this project to enhance the KCMC Medical Birth Registry, making this hugely valuable data accessible to researchers beyond KCMC and INFANT.  This week INFANT will pilot the new high quality, cloud-based birth registry, provide essential training to staff and implement improvements to the [...]

By |February 28th, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT researchers join leading academics to discuss the future of machine learning

Tuesday 19 February 2019 This week, INFANT Director and Associate Investigators presented at ‘The Future of Machine Learning’ Conference at the Maryborough Hotel, Cork. The event organised by MIDAS, in conjunction with Qualcomm and UCC brought together experts in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning to encourage collaboration and innovation that leverages machine learning in Ireland. The day included discussions on why machine learning is important to Ireland and how Ireland’s machine learning research and development is establishing and pushing the research vision. Prof Geraldine Boylan presented 'Big ideas for little brains – using AI to help identify brain injury in newborn infants'. Using artificial intelligence, INFANT has developed the world’s first AI algorithm that can detect seizures in newborns and the centre is continuously looking at ways to integrate AI into its healthcare research. INFANT has a large portfolio of projects for AI in healthcare research and last year won the AI Ireland National Award for 'Best Appilication of AI in an Acaedemic Research Body'. Speaking after the event Prof Boylan said, "I was delighted to present at this high calibre event and for the opportunity to network with colleagues in academia, industry and Government. We are really at the start of a revolution in the use of AI for health care that will shape the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the future. Partnering with AI and machine [...]

By |February 19th, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

TIDA Award to impact INFANT research commercialisation

Monday 04 February 2019 Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development, John Halligan TD, today announced €4.5 million in funding for 38 research projects to support the commercialisation of government-funded research. The funding is provided through Science Foundation Ireland’s Technology Innovation Development Award (TIDA) programme, which has been running since 2009. The programme provides project development funding and training in entrepreneurship skills to third-level researchers, to support them in exploring commercial opportunities associated with their research. John was awarded €124,712 which he will use to support the development of a computer-based system that continuously monitors the brain health of preterm infants in intensive care. Worldwide, over 2 million infants born prematurely are at an increased risk (1 in 3) of brain injury. This injury can be fatal or can result in a lifetime of disability. Knowing which infants are at risk ensures that that the right infants get the right medical care at the right time. John and his research group will pursue commercial pathways to transition this technology from academia to industry in order to safeguard the brains of this vulnerable population. Pictured: Dr John O Toole Researchers funded through the TIDA programme will also participate in the new SFI Spark Pre-Accelerator, which is an intensive five-day programme delivered by the DCU Ryan Academy for [...]

By |February 4th, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

CREATE comes to Cork

Friday 18 January 2019 CREATE was launched last night at St. Peters Gallery. The pregnancy and neonatal journey can be beautiful and scary, joyous and heartbreaking. It can be miraculous, frustrating, sought after or unexpected. It can be straightforward, or it can wind and twist through our lives. We think of it as nine months, but it can be years of trying. It can end unexpectedly. It can resonate for decades afterwards. Every single pregnancy and neonatal journey is unique. In this exhibition, the HRB Mother and Baby Clinical Trial Network, a network of obstetricians, neonatologists, midwives and related health professionals brought together to carry out research on women’s and children’s health, hope to highlight common pregnancy and newborn health issues and celebrate the impact of perinatal research on mothers and babies in Ireland and internationally. The network which brings experts from seven of the largest maternity hospitals in Ireland together are focusing on improving the health and lives of mothers and babies in Ireland and around the world. INFANT co-leads the network. Featured artist Yonit Kosovske Speaking at the launch of the CREATE Exhibition, Prof Geraldine Boylan INFANT Director said, “INFANT is delighted that we have the opportunity to host CREATE in Cork and to showcase the exhibition to our local community. It is wonderful to see scientists and artists working together, to share knowledge and [...]

By |January 18th, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT researchers successful in securing SIRG Awards

Wednesday 16 January 2019 At a launch event yesterday in Dublin, SFI revealed twenty projects are set to be funded by their Starting Investigator Research Grant (SIRG) in 2019. The prestigious grant for early career researchers supports postdoctoral scientists as they develop the necessary skills and experience required for a fully independent research career. Two INFANT and UCC researchers were worthy recipients in the areas of maternal and infant nutrition and novel therapies for premature babies. INFANT researcher Dr Aine Hennessy was awarded €424,898 over four years to develop her project “An exploration of the suitability of thyroid hormones in measuring iodine deficiency during pregnancy and its impact on infant brain development”. The nutrient iodine plays a central role in the production of thyroid hormones. During pregnancy, iodine deficiency can result in severe and long-lasting consequences for an infant’s developing brain. In Ireland, three-quarters of women have inadequate iodine intake. However, the magnitude of this impact on the brain development of Irish infants is unknown. As there is no reliable measure of individual iodine status, this proposal will test the suitability of thyroid hormones to be used as a proxy measure. The data from previous studies will be used to describe the impact of maternal iodine deficiency on the neurodevelopment of infants. This funding will allow Aine to continue her research at INFANT, supervise a [...]

By |January 16th, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT research identifies biomarkers to detect brain injury in newborns

Monday 07 January 2019 Lack of oxygen to the brain at birth affects almost 200 babies in Ireland each year and results in death  or disability in over 2 million infants each year globally. The condition, known as Hypoxic Ischaematic Encephalopathy (HIE), causes brain injury due to lack of oxygen and can leave newborns with permanent neurological damage or cerebral palsy. HIE can be difficult to detect in newborns; early intervention and treatment is vital to improving outcomes and and reducing the impact and severity of the brain damage. Researchers at Ireland’s dedicated fetal and neonatal research centre, INFANT Centre, along with collaborators at UCC and the Karolinksa Institute in Sweden have identified two biochemical signals that can be used to aid the detection of birth-related brain injury. These blood biomarkers found in the umbilical cord could provide an early detection system for HIE in newborns. Early intervention in neonatal brain injury is critical so that the successful brain cooling therapy can be initiated immediately to reduce brain injury and improve outcomes. The findings published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Neurology, validated the involvement of two microRNAs in HIE. microRNAS are small strands of genetic code that can control gene expression and protein production in the cell. They are found throughout the body, and INFANT researchers have found them to be [...]

By |January 7th, 2019|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT research named in Wellcome Trust Top 10

Friday 21 December 2018 AI is helping babies at risk of brain injury Time is critical for doctors treating newborn babies with suspected brain injuries. The sooner treatments such as whole body cooling can be used, the better the outcomes are likely to be. Doctors rely on the results of EEG brain monitoring to give them crucial information. But these brain scans are so detailed they can only be interpreted by an expert, and there aren’t enough experts for someone to be at every cot side. Wellcome-funded researchers at the INFANT Centre at University College Cork are developing the first ‘smart’ system to recognise patterns in electrical brain activity, which will help to identify babies who need treatment quickly. Read the full article here: https://wellcome.ac.uk/news/10-ways-remarkable-research-protecting-health

By |December 21st, 2018|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT Celebrates Five Years of World Class Research

Friday 14 December 2018 Since its establishment through a research Centre award from Science Foundation Ireland,  and under the continuous leadership of Professor Geraldine Boylan, the INFANT Centre at UCC has been responsible for a number of innovative breakthroughs that are saving lives and improving outcomes for babies and their families every day, as well as shaping perinatal medicine around the world. With a national and international focus, INFANT is now collaborating with over 35 industry and academic partners in more than 30 countries. INFANT research is continually published in top-ranking international journals, while pioneering research in pre-eclampsia, newborn brain injury, infant nutrition, and infant allergy is solving global clinical challenges. INFANT Director Geraldine Boylan commented on the high impact research emanating from Ireland’s perinatal research centre, saying “INFANT has grown rapidly in its first 5 years. Not only have we grown in scale, industry collaborations and partnerships, but also in ambition and innovation. The INFANT team are responsible for internationally significant breakthroughs in perinatal and paediatric medicine, as well as research that is influencing and positively changing lives and outcomes for families every day. “We are currently working on frontline research in areas such as early autism diagnosis, supporting newborn brain health and cognitive function, to treating the causes of allergy, eczema and asthma, among several other key projects.  INFANT will continue to break [...]

By |December 14th, 2018|Categories: News|0 Comments

ENRICH Team Reaches Study Milestone

Thursday 29 November 2018 We’ve reached a milestone! The ENRICH team recently reached a significant milestone in the study completing all the 4-month appointments. The Infant Baby Enrichment Research Programme, is better known as ENRICH. The programme - co-funded by Johnson & Johnson and Science Foundation Ireland - is focused on understanding how sleep contributes to the healthy development of infants. Studies have shown that brain development and learning are heavily influenced by sleep. Regular, quality sleep helps to optimise physical growth and brain plasticity, while a lack of sleep has been linked to long term negative impacts on behaviours and learning ability. The ENRICH programme is examining the effect of massage, delivered by the parents, trained according to a structured programme, on both the quality and quantity of sleep and on subsequent neurodevelopment. Baby Conor and his mom Colleen pictured with Sean Mathieson, ENRICH senior clinical physiologist. Since October 2017, a total of 182 participants attended the 4-month appointment in Cork University Hospital. Each appointment included a standardised development assessment (known as the Griffiths III assessment), a tool that is used to assess developmental ability in children. Following this assessment, infants then undertook a sleep EEG study. The EEG study was used to record a full sleep cycle which typically lasts 40 minutes for 4 month old infants. What next? The developmental outcome recorded [...]

By |November 29th, 2018|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT Director named Fáilte Ireland Conference Ambassador of the Year

Wednesday 28 November 2018 Last Friday, Fáilte Ireland honoured 83 of its leading Conference Ambassadors at a glamourous award ceremony at Christ Church Cathedral. The recipients - from a variety of backgrounds, including academia, medical science, technology, environment, and culture amongst others - were nominated for an award by the Irish conference and meetings industry. INFANT Director Prof Geraldine Boylan pictured with Fáilte Ireland Chairman Michael Cawley and Chief Executive Paul Kelly. INFANT Director Professor Geraldine Boylan was given special recognition on the night for her significant contribution to international conferencing in Ireland, taking home the Conference Ambassador of the Year Award. In 2015, Geraldine won her bid to host the 9th International Conference on Brain Monitoring and Neuroprotection in the Newborn in Cork. Having hosted a successful conference, Geraldine won it again for 2017, this time bringing the delegates to her home county of Kerry. Delegates came from Europe, America, Australia, New Zealand, China and Japan. INFANT Principal Investigator Dr Keelin O'Donoghue was also presented with a Conference Ambassador award, recognising her contribution to conferencing in Ireland. Keelin was instrumental in delivering the International Stillbirth Alliance Conference in Cork last year. Dr Keelin O'Donoghue (bottom left) pictured with fellow Medical Sciences Conference Ambassador Awardees. Geraldine said, “Bringing scientific conferences to Ireland is hugely important for showcasing Irish science and innovation internationally. It is also a very strong endorsement [...]

By |November 28th, 2018|Categories: News|0 Comments