About the Neonatal Clinical Nutrition Research Group

The Neonatal Clinical Nutrition Research Group focuses on improving nutritional care for newborn babies, particularly those born prematurely or requiring specialist and intensive care.

Nutrition in the first days and weeks of life plays a critical role in growth, brain development and long-term health. The group’s research is embedded in clinical practice, combining clinical and health service research to ensure babies receive the right nutrition at the right time.

Working closely with healthcare professionals, researchers and industry partners, the team translates research into practical solutions that can be implemented at the cot-side, improving care for babies while delivering measurable benefits for families and the health service.

 

Work with us

We collaborate with partners across healthcare, academia and industry to advance neonatal nutrition research and improve outcomes for newborn babies. If you are interested in learning more about our work or exploring opportunities to collaborate, please contact infant@ucc.ie.

 

 

From Research to Practice: PremSmart

PremSmart is a clinically-proven standardised system for delivering intravenous nutrition to preterm babies, developed to improve consistency and safety in neonatal care. It supports clinicians to deliver nutrition more effectively during the earliest stages of life as babies gradually move onto full milk feeds and is now used in neonatal units across Ireland.

đź”— Read the full impact story

 

 

Our Team

Dr Ann-Marie Brennan

Co-Founder Neonatal Clinical Nutrition Research Group and Lead Investigator, INFANT Research Centre

Clinical Specialist Neonatal Dietitian, Cork University Maternity Hospital

Dr Brennan is an established researcher in preterm nutrition with over 25 years of clinical and academic experience. She leads the development, validation and national implementation of PremSmart.

 

 

Sarah Fenton

Co-Founder Neonatal Clinical Nutrition Research Group, INFANT Research Centre

Advanced Specialist Neonatal Pharmacist, Cork University Maternity Hospital / Cork University Hospital

Sarah Fenton has over 20 years clinical experience with expertise in preterm nutrition, health informatics and implementation science. She co-leads the development and validation of PremSmart, and is conducting the national evaluation of its implementation.