INFANT Centre News

Thursday 06 April 2017 William Hutch is a medical researcher from University College Cork. He has a PhD in neuroscience and is involved in the neonatal brain research group at INFANT. In his TEDxUCC talk, he reveals for the first time the undiscovered phenomenon of how we can now look at and listen to the brain of a preterm infant using EEG. This may allow doctors to detect the early warning signs of any neurological change in such preterm infants. In a sense, the preterm infant is actually telling us when they are not feeling well.

Monday 03 April 2017 We look forward to seeing you there!

Friday 31 March 2017   Cork’s Lifelong Learning Festival promotes and celebrates learning of all kinds, whatever your age, interest or ability.   Dr Simon Woodworth, will give a talk on his work as Lead Investigator in the LEANBH project at Blackrock Castle Observatory, in Blackrock, Cork at 20:00 on Friday 7 April.   Learning to Evaluate Blood Pressure at Home (LEANBH) is a study which investigates hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Find out why this is important and see a demonstration of the equipment used.   More information here: http://www.bco.ie/ 

Thursday 30 March 2017 Groundbreaking Collaboration We are delighted to announce our collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Innovation to explore the effects of sleep on baby brain development. INFANT, a world leading Science Foundation Ireland funded research Centre at University College Cork (UCC) and Cork University Maternity Hospital, announced today that it will collaborate with Johnson & Johnson Consumer Services EAME Ltd. for the Baby Enrichment Research Programme, ENRICH, to explore the effects of sleep on baby brain development. The collaboration was facilitated by Johnson & Johnson Innovation. The announcement comes at the same time as World Sleep Day, an awareness programme engaging 72 countries around the world in a global call to action about the importance of sleep. Understanding Sleep The ENRICH research programme aims to understand the effects of sleep behaviours on the cognitive development of infants. Results from the study aim to help to promote early and lifelong health as sleep is essential for brain development in infants. This research programme will examine detailed information about sleep in infants using both parental observations and objective brain activity measurement (EEG). Launching the ENRICH project, Prof Geraldine Boylan, co-director of the INFANT Centre said, “this unique collaboration is a fantastic opportunity. It will combine Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.’s research on the importance of multi-sensorial experiences for babies with INFANT’s international expertise in infant [...]

Wednesday 22 March 2017 "If You Go into the Wards Today ..." This week, children from three local schools in Cork brought their teddy bears to CUH's new outpatient paediatric department. These junior doctors were giving their cuddly patients a check up at our Teddy Bear Hospital. Organised by Cork University Hospital, the INFANT Centre and UCC's Medical Society, the Teddy Bear Hospital introduces children to medical instruments and procedures in a fun learning environment. After an initial consultation with their brave teddy, the children decided on a treatment with the help of specialist CUH nurses, INFANT researchers and student doctors from UCC's Medical Society. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Previous Next Introducing Children to Doctors Prof. Jonathan Hourihane, Professor of Paediatrics at CUH and Principal Investigator at INFANT, explained why the Teddy Bear Hospital was such a success: "The aim of the Teddy Bear Hospital is to introduce children to doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals in the hospital, through the eyes of their teddy. This is done in a friendly and entertaining way so they will have a better idea of what to expect if they ever need to visit to the hospital, or will have helped them adjust to experiences they may have already had here or elsewhere. It’s also important for them to see that we do research in the hospital to develop new treatments and improve care for [...]

Monday 27 February 2017 Three new studies from the Pregnancy Loss Research Group have been published surrounding the impact of stillbirth and intrapartum death.   Led by our PI, Dr Keelin O'Donoghue, the research explores the impact on parents and on healthcare professionals with recommendations for how to improve care. The death of a baby through stillbirth is recognized as one of life’s most challenging bereavements and it has long-lasting consequences New research from the Pregnancy Loss Research Group at INFANT explored the impact of how bad news was communicated to parents following a diagnosis of stillbirth. Interviews were conducted with 17 parents who were bereaved following stillbirth. The way the diagnosis of stillbirth was communicated to parents had a profound and lasting impact The researchers found that the way the diagnosis was communicated was profoundly important. The parents recalled in detail where and how the bad news was broken to them, and language the clinician used. If the clinicians used diversionary techniques, it created a sense of mistrust especially if the parents felt that information was being withheld. The study highlights the importance of language, sensitivity, and the environment in which the news is delivered. The researchers recommend that clinicians engage in patient-focused communication training in order to help them communicate in an open, sensitive and honest way.   Paper Available here: Communication Skills in Obstetrics: What Can We Learn from Bereaved Parents? Stillbirth is [...]

Monday 27 February 2017 Information The Conference will take place over two days, Saturday and Sunday, with a mixture of plenary and concurrent sessions from invited speakers and selected presentations from conference abstracts. Pre-conference workshops will be held on Friday 22nd of September followed by the ISA Official Opening Ceremony & Welcome Reception. Key Dates Abstract Submission Deadline: January 19th - April 21st 2017 Early Bird Registration Deadline: 2nd June 2017 Confirmed Speakers Professor Fran Boyle The University of Queensland, Australia Dr Molly Byrne National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland Professor Alan Cameron University of Glasgow, Scotland Dr Myra Cullinane Dublin District Coroner, Ireland Professor Jane Dahlstrom The Australian National University Dr Mary Devins Our lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, Ireland Professor Soo Downe University of Central Lancashire, UK Professor Elizabeth Draper University of Leicester, United Kingdom Professor Richard Greene National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, Ireland Dr Alexander Heazell The University of Manchester, UK Professor Mary Higgins University College Dublin, Ireland Professor Stephen Kennedy University of Oxford, UK Professor Louise Kenny INFANT, Ireland Professor Joan Lalor Trinity College Dublin, Ireland Professor Stephen Liben McGill University, Canada Professor Fergal Malone Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Dr Tracy Mills The University of Manchester, UK Mr Bryan Nolan Irish Hospice Foundation Professor Michael Turner University College Dublin, Ireland Dr Jane Warland University of South Australia Ms Aleena Wojcieszek The University [...]

Friday 10 February 2017 Dr Andrey Temko, INFANT researcher, has won a prestigious international competition for his work in predicting seizures in the human brain through long-term EEG recordings. Highest Accuracy Together with data scientists from Ornon, France; Curitiba, Brazil; and Minneapolis, US, Dr Temko developed an artificial intelligence solution that showed the highest accuracy among nearly 500 competing teams from around the world. Seizure Forcasting The aim of the Kaggle event was to develop seizure forecasting systems with the potential to help patients with epilepsy lead more normal lives. Epilepsy afflicts nearly 1% of the world's population, and is characterised by the occurrence of spontaneous seizures. Huge Achievement INFANT Centre co-director  Prof Geraldine Boylan congratulated Andriy on this prestigious win, noting "this is a huge achievement at an international level. We are really delighted to have Dr Temko’s unique expertise here in the INFANT centre. He has used his skills in machine learning to develop a novel computer programme that can automatically detect seizures in newborn babies who are  in intensive care. Machine Learning This computer programme was translated into a cot-side medical device and a  clinical trial of this device has just been completed in eight centres across Europe (www.anserstudy.com).  Machine learning is contributing hugely to modern healthcare, particularly in supporting clinical decision making. At the INFANT centre, a large area of our research is focused on using machine learning to develop [...]

Tuesday 21 February 2017 INFANT researchers show that 46% of newborn babies have vitamin D deficiency Deficiency and Recommendations INFANT Centre researchers, in collaboration with the Cork Centre for Vitamin D and Nutrition Research, have reported a high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency amongst newborn babies. A newborn baby's Vitamin D status at birth is dependent on their mother’s vitamin D status during her pregnancy. These results highlight the need for specific vitamin D recommendations for mothers during pregnancy to avoid potential long-term health problems for their children. High Deficiency in Winter This research, which is published in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, originates from the SCOPE-BASELINE Birth Cohort Study, funded by the National Children’s Research Centre. SCOPE-BASELINE is Ireland’s first and largest birth cohort study which is following 1500 first-time mothers and their babies: it has recently completed all the 5-year assessments of the children enrolled in the study. The published research indicates that 46% of newborns had a vitamin D deficiency at birth and the deficiency was particularly higher (62%) for babies born in wintertime. INFANT researchers recommend specific vitamin D policies for mothers during pregnancy Unique Data Despite the high level of vitamin D deficiency found in newborn babies, there were no immediate negative effects on bone health during infancy. This, in all probability, is due to the high level of parents complying [...]

Tuesday 07 February 2017 The Directors and Executive Management Team are delighted to announce that Professor Declan Devane will join the INFANT Centre as Principal Investigator in the INFANT Team. Exciting Expansion Prof Devane’s joining of INFANT marks a very exciting time of expansion in the centre. Prof Louise Kenny noted, “Declan brings a wealth of experience and knowledge which will extend the research areas of our centre.  He is a leading expert in his field and we are really looking forward to working together to expand the impact that INFANT can have for maternity care”. Prof Geraldine Boylan added, “Declan has an international record of excellence in teaching and research which will greatly help us to achieve our goal of improving health outcomes for mothers and their children around the world”. Wealth of Experience Declan is Professor of Midwifery at NUI Galway and the Director of the Health Research Board - Trials Methodology Research Network (HRB-TMRN). Declan has a particular interest in the implementation and evaluation of models of maternity care, and on methods of fetal monitoring. He is an expert in conducting randomised trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses. He has published over 110 papers including numerous Cochrane systematic reviews predominantly in the field of fetal assessment. Meeting Global Needs The Vice President for Research and Innovation at UCC, Professor Anita Maguire welcomed the addition of this talented [...]

Monday 06 February 2017 On 31 January, four of the Principal Investigators of the BASELINE Study came together in the Aula Maxima at UCC to discuss what we have learned after finishing all the 5-year assessments for the children enrolled in the study. Downloads of the PIs presentations are available at the bottom of the page.   The aims of BASELINE were to: Explore the prevalence of food allergy and eczema Investigate maternal and neonatal Vitamin D status Examine the metabolic and developmental effects of IUGR Build a foundation for studying the cohort through childhood and into adulthood.   5 centres collaborated 5 centres collaborated: Food and Nutritional Sciences, UCC Dermatology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity College Dublin Obstetrics & Gynaecology, UCC Paediatrics & Child Health, College of Medicine & Health, UCC Neonatal Brain Research Group, UCC   The study was funded by the National Children's Research Centre. 2137 mother and baby pairs were recruited to the study 1 2 3 4 5 Previous Next There are currently 6.5 MILLION data points in the BASELINE database, each constituting of a measurement or questionnaire answer. We are hoping to carry on the BASELINE study, and meet with the children and parents again at 10 years.   Sincere thanks to all involved: to the families and our funders for making it possible! Downloads BASELINE Overview BASELINE - [...]

Thursday 02 February 2017 INFANT is delighted to be hosting the 10th International Conference on Brain Monitoring and Neuroprotection in the Newborn, 5-7 October 2017 in Kerry, Ireland. This conference provides a state of the art forum for discussion of current research and clinical care in newborn brain monitoring and neuroprotection. With an international faculty of leading opinion leaders, this conference provides a unique opportunity to hear brain monitoring and neuroprotection discussed comprehensively with an intersection between research and evidence-based clinical care at a time when both fields are growing rapidly. Accompanying workshops are an integral part of the conference and are designed to guide and provide a unique training experience.   Registration will be available on http://newbornbrain2017.com/   The international conference faculty have been announced: http://newbornbrain2017.com/faculty/  Co-Chaired by our director, Prof Geraldine Boylan.   Related Links Newborn Brain Conference Website

Monday 30 January 2017 Summary Little Book of Irish Science: 100 Things You Should Know showcases the groundbreaking research taking place in Ireland. Read about INFANT Centre projects and innovations on pages 1, 75 and 76. Read on ISSUU: Downloads Science Foundation Ireland Little Book of Irish Science

Monday 30 January 2017 Bite-Sized Science On January 25th, science took over Triskel Christchurch in Cork for the FameLab Munster Heat. FameLab is one of the biggest science communication competitions in the world. Presenters have three minutes to explain a scientific concept to their audience. In 2016, INFANT's own Daragh Finn claimed 3rd place in the FameLab Ireland final. Stress and Prediction INFANT's speakers at event represented the diverse nature of our research. Our Young Researcher of the Year, Katie Togher, took to the stage first to explain how stress affects mothers and babies. The next INFANT speaker, Deirdre Hayes-Ryan, gave the audience a compelling presentation titled "Pre-eclampsia: knowing is half the battle". Finding ways to fight pre-eclampsia and keep mums safe is one of INFANT's core research missions. Sunshine and High Voltage Karen O'Callaghan told a full-house at the Triskel why sunshine is so important to our wellbeing, reflecting the findings of INFANT researchers in the ODIN study. In "Danger, Danger, High Voltage?!", Alison O'Shea looked to dispel myths about the dangers of electricity, highlighting the key role it plays in groundbreaking scientific research. Congratulations to our FameLab contestants on a great achievement!

Tuesday 10 January 2017 The Cork BASELINE Birth Cohort Study; Irelands largest birth cohort study has just completed its study of children from before birth through to 5 years of age. We wish to mark this milestone by sharing our findings with the families who have given so generously of their time, and the broader UCC community. Please join us to celebrate what we have achieved together on 31 January 2017 at 19:00 in the Aula Maxima, UCC.   Please RSVP to the event here   Our wonderful participants were recruited through their parents, before they were born. They have been followed up at many time points since then with detailed assessments of their growth, development, health, and disease. Funded by the National Children's Research Centre, this multi-disciplinary study aims to answer important questions regarding allergy, nutrition, growth and development in Irish children. We have already made important discoveries regarding children’s health and collected information which we hope will answer many more questions in the years to come. Join us to hear what the BASELINE data has taught us! Related Links BASELINE Website

Wednesday 04 January 2017 Pre-eclampsia, a serious condition of late pregnancy, characterized by high blood pressure and increased protein in the urine in the second-half of pregnancy. This condition affects 5% of first time mothers and is associated with significant maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. A quarter of babies born to women with pre-eclampsia do not grow properly, and a third are born prematurely. Globally, 76,000 mothers and 500,000 infants die each year as a direct result of this condition. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 20% of the 15 million preterm births reported each year are related to pre-eclampsia. Currently there is no treatment for pre-eclampsia. Picture Above: Mitochondria are critical metabolic signalling organelles in pre-eclampsia The placenta is a highly metabolic organ. The central role of mitochondria is the synthesis of ATP by oxidative phosphorylation. Electrons donated from carbohydrates oxidized by TCA cycle including NADH pass through ETC and ultimately reduce O2 to form H2O. As electrons are transported a proton (H+) gradient develops across the inner mitochondrial membrane facilitating the conversion of ADP to ATP by Complex V of the ETC. Superoxide (O2−) is generated by the ETC and is converted to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which can easily diffuse through mitochondrial membranes and mediate redox signalling. Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to exaggerated O2− generation (oxidative stress) with subsequent maternal endothelial dysfunction. mtDNA is [...]

Tuesday 03 January 2017 Low Deficiency INFANT researchers have shown that Vitamin D deficiency is low in Irish toddlers. In comparision with figures for Irish adults, a small percentage of two year olds are deficient. However, the study shows that Vitamin D intake remains lower than international recommendations. Low Intake The average vitamin D intake was 3.5 µg per day. 96% of children were found to have a vitamin D intake of under 10 µg per day. This value of 10 µg per day is the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) proposed by the IOM in the United States and Canada. 10 µg per day is also the Safe Intake value proposed by SACN in the UK for children aged 1 to < 4 years. Children who did not consume food fortified with vitamin D or vitamin D supplements had the lowest intakes (~1 µg per day). Winter Months There was a high prevalence of low vitamin D status during the winter months (November-April), especially among children who did not consume vitamin D-fortified foods or nutritional supplements. Better Research The study notes that dietary strategies are needed to increase the intake of Vitamin D for this age group. With this in mind, INFANT researchers suggest that advice on Vitamin D intake should be based on dose-response randomised control trials. These trials would help make dietary advice for toddlers more consistent. "Uncertainty around the dietary requirements for vitamin D for infants and children persists." Related Links Read: [...]

Thursday 22 December 2016 Consultant Obstetricians have their say on Twitter: #wearedelivering the maternity service On 12 Dec, the Irish Times published an opinion article entitled "Ireland’s Maternity Services: An Ongoing Horror Story" In response, 26 female Obstetricians & Gynaecologists came together, writing letters to the Irish Times about the woman-centered care they deliver and defending the maternity services. At the same time, a campaign began on Twitter to give examples of how #wearedelivering care to mothers and babies in Ireland.   In 10 days, over 1,000,000 impressions have been made on Twitter #wearedelivering Looking at a snapshot of the tweets from a few days after it began, 200,000 twitter accounts had been reached, with over 500 tweets every day. Users are contributing across Ireland and as far as the United States and Australia. Approx 90% of contributors are women: they are leading the conversation on the maternity services, how to improve the incredible breadth of services, and tell of women's experience of the service: both good and bad. Other hashtags have grown from the discussion, notably #IrishMatExp, #ibirthed and #thankstomyHCPs - the conversation has begun. We are very supportive of this as conversation: it is what brings about change. Women need to be empowered to speak and be heard: the services should reflect what they need and also what they want. We at Infant care deeply about mothers and babies. We are working to provide evidence-based research that will bring [...]

Tuesday 20 December 2016 Fundraising for mums and babies On 11 November, Women's Fitness Plus Gym hosted a fundraising fashion show. This incredible night, hosted in the Women's Fitness Plus bespoke studio, was all in aid of the research in the INFANT Centre. Incredible Generosity Women's Fitness Cork presented the INFANT Centre with a huge €2,553 raised by the November fashion show. The donation was accepted by INFANT co-directors Prof. Geraldine Boylan and Prof. Louise Kenny.   We are constantly overwhelmed by the generosity of businesses like Women's Fitness Plus and the people of Cork. We could not do our research without them. We would like to sincerely thank everyone who attended the fashion show and who donated so generously. Your donations will have a great impact and will help not only mothers and babies here in the CUMH, but families around the world. Women's Fitness Cork raised a massive €2,553 for the INFANT Centre, helping us to make pregnancy safer. Related Links Follow the INFANT Centre on Twitter for more news, outreach and events.

Monday 19 December 2016 INFANT Awards 2016 The inaugural INFANT Awards 2016, held in the main auditorium Cork Maternity Hospital, showcased the incredible talent, teamwork and commitment to innovation which makes the work of the INFANT centre possible. Dr. Niamh Shaw: "Walking (Slowly) Towards Space" Engineer, scientist and performer Dr Niamh Shaw gave an opening talk titled "Walking (Slowly) Towards Space". She discussed the importance of awakening and encouraging curiosity across the fields of science, technology, art, engineering and mathematics (STEAM). Describing her personal journey and how she is following her dream of reaching space, Dr. Shaw talked about how innovation takes courage, vision and a step-by-step approach. The perception of career goals and success was also a topic for discussion, with many INFANT staff members feeling that working to make pregnancy safer was their dream job. The talk concluded with a short Q&A where Dr. Shaw spoke about the role she believes communication can play in promoting research and innovation. Person of the Year Amy Aherne and Head of Operations Jo Studham. Young Researcher of the Year Katie Togher and Head of Operations Jo Studham. EPE Person of The Year Alison O'Shea and EPE Manager Dr. Ria O'Sullivan-Lago. Researcher of the Year Dr. John O'Toole and Head of Operations Jo Studham. Person of the Year Amy Aherne and Head of Operations Jo Studham. Young Researcher of the Year Katie Togher and [...]

Wednesday 14 December 2016 HIE and Therapeutic Hypothermia   Research at the INFANT centre is focused on developing new ways to help mothers and babies. One of the treatment options being studied by our researchers is therapeutic hypothermia. When babies are deprived of oxygen or blood flow around the time of birth, this may result in a condition known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), which can result in severe brain damage and other lifelong diseases. This is where therapeutic hypothermia is useful: research has shown outcome for these children is improved significantly if they are cooled quickly after birth and kept cool for several days. How Therapeutic Hypothermia Works Therapeutic hypothermia uses a cooling cap or blanket to preserve a lowered temperature, reducing inflammation and giving the brain recovery time. The treatment usually takes place over the course of three days, after which the baby is warmed up again. Around 180 children in Ireland suffer from HIE at birth each year. Offering Therapeutic Hypothermia in Mild Cases of HIE In moderate or severe cases of HIE, this cooling treatment has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of cerebral palsy and longterm disability. At INFANT, the effect of HIE on the brain has been well documented. Prof. Geraldine Boylan and Dr. Deirdre Murray have studied the brainwaves of neonates with HIE, with a follow-up investigation taking place five years later. The [...]

Wednesday 30 November 2016 Presenter Anne-Marie Tomchak, UK editor of Mashable, returned home to Ireland determined to explore a world where our digital fingerprints are being captured and applied in all areas of modern life. In INFANT, she met with our directors Prof. Louise Kenny and Prof. Geraldine Boylan to explore how INFANT uses big data to help make pregnancy safer and improve health outcomes for newborn babies, under the strictest data security. INFANT technology, Prof. Kenny notes, is advancing how we protect women during pregnancy "from being only able to predict risk using very simple clinical data to real precision medicine", where one blood sample can predict "a woman's entire pregnancy course." Asked how technology and data help us learn about childbirth, Prof. Boylan explains that the brainwave analysis tools being developed by INFANT researchers are vital as they give us "the only window we have into the newborn brain". Related Links Catch it on the RTE Player  

Wednesday 26 October 2016 Researchers from the INFANT Centre are presenting their work at the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy XX World Congress in São Paulo, Brazil. Our director, Prof Louise Kenny gave a keynote address, Dr. Ali Khashan gave two oral presentations and Amy Aherne gave an early bird lecture on Social Media for Academics.     1 2 Previous Next Related Links ISSHP 2016 Conference Website

Monday 24 October 2016 The wonderful Womens Fitness Gym are holding their second ever Fashion show on Friday 11 Nov in aid of The Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translation Research in the CUMH. There will be fantastic shops/Boutiques on board such as Verso & Quiz Clothing from Douglas Court Shopping Centre, Arcade Midleton, Butterfly Ladies Fashion Boutique by the Lough, Silk Peaches in Ballincollig, Icon in Douglas/Wilton Shopping Centre, Born Fashions in Wilton Shopping Centre & our neighbors Elverys Sports. It will be a fabulous evening showcasing our members success stories along with a performance by the stunning Claudia Rose Music from The Voice UK on the night. The fashion show will be taking place in Building 2 at 19:30. Tickets are on sale in the gym, €15 per person.   We look forward to seeing you there!

Monday 24 October 2016 We are very proud of our team of INFANT Researchers who are presenting the work carried out at the INFANT Centre at the European Academy of Paediatrics Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. Every single person attending from INFANT has either an invited talk, a platform presentation or a poster, some have more than one presentation: approx 20 accepted abstracts all together. We are really proud of our researchers and delighted to be part of such an important conference. Related Links EAPS 2016 Conference Website