AI4LIFE: AI for Fetal Wellbeing
Every newborn baby should have the opportunity to survive and thrive
What is AI4LIFE?
Lack of oxygen at birth is responsible for 23% of all deaths in full-term infants and approximately 1.15 million infants survive with significant disability.
The research team at INFANT, led by Professors Liam Marnane and Geraldine Boylan plan to develop a new, easy to interpret, fetal monitoring system that will use artificial intelligence (AI) assisted interpretation. Enabling a more accurate assessment of fetal wellbeing during pregnancy will untimely reduce the prevalence of oxygen deprivation at birth.
How does AI4LIFE work?
The project will use artificial intelligence to interrogate the vital signs of mothers and babies during labour to quickly identify any issues.
The team aims to develop a novel, easy to interpret, fetal monitoring system, that will use AI-assisted interpretation of vital signs monitoring during labour to reduce the risk of neonatal injury and death.
AI4LIFE will develop a software algorithm to simplify interpretation of data, guiding clinicians on the appropriate intervention. Machine learning will be used to train the algorithm to identify in the data that suggest the baby is not tolerating labour as well as expected.
The AI4LIFE project has the potential to impact current clinical practice and improve the lives of families, their babies and international society.
This project is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.
What is AI4LIFE II?
AI4LIFE II is part of the ELEVATE research programme and builds on the original AI4LIFE study.
AI4LIFE II aims to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that uses CTG recordings together with maternal and fetal clinical information to help identify babies who may be at risk of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) during labour.
The study is led by Dr. Mairead O’Riordan, Professor Liam Marnane and Professor Geraldine Boylan and uses health data collected in Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) between 2019 and 2025.
What is HIE?
Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a type of brain injury that can occur when a baby’s brain does not receive enough oxygen around the time of birth. While uncommon, it can cause serious illness in newborn babies and may lead to long-term developmental or neurological difficulties.
Why are we doing this research?
Although HIE is rare, it can have a significant impact on babies and their families. By analysing CTG recordings and other information routinely collected during labour, we hope to improve the early identification of babies who may be at risk and support safer maternity care for future mothers and babies.
Information About Your Data
This study uses health information collected as part of routine care in Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH).
To learn more about how INFANT works with CUMH health data, your privacy rights, and how to request the deletion of your data before anonymisation, please visit Our Research and Your Data.