Pregnancy complications can affect mental health long after birth

By |2026-09-17T11:09:08+01:00July 23rd, 2026|

Pregnancy complications can affect mental health long after birth

New research from INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, highlights the long-term psychological impact of pregnancy and birth complications, calling for more compassionate, woman-centred maternity care.

For many women, recovery after pregnancy or birth complications extends far beyond physical healing.

A new qualitative study from researchers at the INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, has found that women who experience serious complications during pregnancy or childbirth can continue to face significant emotional and psychological challenges for years afterwards.

The research, published in Women and Birth, explored the experiences of women across Ireland who had experienced a range of pregnancy and birth complications. Through in-depth interviews, the researchers sought to better understand the long-term impact these experiences had on women’s mental health and wellbeing.

 

The emotional impact doesn’t always end after birth

While many women recover physically, participants described how anxiety, fear and emotional distress often remained long after they had left hospital.

One participant reflected:

“I don’t think I’ll ever come off anxiety medication now.”

Others spoke about living with uncertainty, losing confidence in their own bodies, and feeling anxious about future pregnancies.

Many women also described feeling isolated during their recovery, particularly once they returned home, where emotional support was often limited despite the ongoing psychological impact of their experiences.

 

Feeling heard matters

A consistent theme throughout the research was the importance of communication.

Women valued healthcare professionals who listened, explained what was happening clearly and acknowledged the emotional impact of what they had experienced.

Where communication was poor, participants described feeling confused, unsupported or left with unanswered questions that continued to affect them long after giving birth.

The researchers suggest that relatively small improvements in communication, follow-up care and access to psychological support could make a meaningful difference to women’s recovery.

 

Supporting women beyond delivery

The findings highlight the need to view recovery from pregnancy complications as more than physical healing.

Ensuring women receive compassionate communication, appropriate information and ongoing emotional support may help reduce longer-term psychological distress and improve experiences of maternity care.

By listening directly to women’s experiences, the study provides valuable insights that can help inform future maternity services and improve care for women and families across Ireland.

 

About the research

The study was led by Dr Elizabeth Bodunde in collaboration with Prof Ali Khashan, Dr Karen O’Connor, Prof Fergus McCarthy and Dr Karen Matvienko-Sikar at the INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork.

The research has been published in Women and Birth.

Read the paper: https://lnkd.in/dWrPS-ZS

 

 

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Better conversations could strengthen stillbirth-prevention efforts

By |2026-09-17T11:10:02+01:00July 14th, 2026|

Better conversations could strengthen stillbirth-prevention efforts

A University College Cork study led by researchers from the National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, the Pregnancy Loss Research Group at INFANT Research Centre and the School of Public Health, highlights missed opportunities to reduce stillbirth risk in Ireland.

Every parent wants to do everything they can to give their baby the best possible start.

Yet new research from University College Cork has found that while most women know they should go to sleep on their side during late pregnancy, many are never told why it matters.

The national study, involving almost 800 women across Ireland, is the first to examine awareness of maternal sleep position recommendations in Ireland and the behavioural factors that influence whether women follow them.

 

A simple action with the potential to reduce stillbirth

International evidence has shown that going to sleep on your side from 28 weeks of pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of stillbirth.

The research found that although most women recognised side sleeping as the recommended position, only around six in ten understood that the advice is linked to reducing stillbirth risk. Even more concerning, discussions about stillbirth were rarely part of conversations with healthcare professionals.

Instead, many women first encountered this information through websites, social media or pregnancy apps rather than through routine maternity care.

 

Knowledge was strongly associated with behaviour

The study found that women who correctly understood the recommendations were more than four times more likely to adopt the advised sleep position.

Researchers also found that women were most motivated to follow the advice when they understood it was better for their baby, highlighting the importance of explaining not just what to do, but why it matters.

 

Informing future public health action

The findings suggest that improving awareness is not simply about providing more information.

Instead, consistent messaging, earlier conversations during pregnancy, and practical advice that helps women manage common challenges such as reflux or discomfort could improve adherence to sleep position recommendations.

The researchers suggest these findings could help inform future national public health campaigns and maternity care guidance aimed at reducing preventable stillbirths in Ireland.

 

Research at a glance

Research focus
Understanding women’s knowledge and behaviours around sleep position during late pregnancy.

Participants
769 women who had given birth in Ireland within the previous two years.

Key findings

  • Most women knew they should go to sleep on their side, but many did not understand the link with stillbirth prevention.
  • More than one-third reported receiving no advice about sleep position during pregnancy.
  • Women who understood the recommendations were over four times more likely to follow them.
  • Much of the information women received came from non-clinical sources rather than healthcare professionals.
  • Earlier, clearer and more consistent communication could strengthen stillbirth prevention efforts.

 

Read the full study here.

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Giving premature babies a stronger start: how PremSmart transformed neonatal nutrition in Ireland

By |2026-09-17T11:06:21+01:00July 7th, 2026|

Giving premature babies a stronger start: how PremSmart transformed neonatal nutrition in Ireland

For babies born too soon, the first days of life are critical. During this period, nutrition plays a critical role in brain development, growth and long-term health. But for many years, delivering that nutrition safely and consistently was one of the most complex challenges in neonatal care.

Clinicians relied on a highly individualised approach to intravenous nutrition, prescribing nutrients one by one. It was complex, time-consuming and difficult to standardise. In fast-changing environments, delays between prescribing and delivery meant that by the time nutrition reached a baby, their needs could already have changed. Even when everything worked as intended, many babies experienced gaps in nutrition during this crucial stage.

 

From research to practice

PremSmart was developed to address this challenge.

PremSmart combines specially designed intravenous nutrition formulations with a decision-support system that helps clinicians match nutrition more closely to a baby’s changing needs.

The work began through research closely connected to clinical practice, shaped by the challenges faced in neonatal units. Developed through collaboration between the INFANT Research Centre and the Health Service Executive (HSE), the system is designed to support babies through one of the most complex stages of care — when they transition from intravenous feeding to milk.

 

National impact

Today, PremSmart is used in neonatal units across Ireland and has become part of routine care in the majority of cases. This level of national adoption is rare, particularly for something as complex as intravenous nutrition.

This is reflected in how it is now used in practice across neonatal units.

Prof Anne Doolan, Consultant Neonatologist at The Coombe Hospital, says:

“We use the PremSmart program every day in our Neonatal Unit. It has standardised practice which means that every baby gets excellent nutritional care.”

 

Babies are now more consistently reaching recommended nutritional levels during this early stage, supporting better growth. For healthcare teams, the system simplifies a previously complex process, reducing variation and easing workload. For the health service, it has delivered efficiencies, including cost savings of around €1 million per year.

For families, the impact is less visible but just as important. Parents of preterm babies must place enormous trust in clinical teams during an already overwhelming time. Knowing that care is supported by a consistent, well-designed system offers reassurance when so much else feels uncertain.

Clíona O’Donoghue, whose daughter Sadhbh was born at 26 weeks, describes the experience:

“My daughter Sadhbh was born at 26 weeks, weighing just 2 lbs 3 oz. The neonatal journey can be overwhelming, and we placed complete trust in the team caring for her. We lived from one weigh-in to the next, seeing every gram gained as a sign of progress and hope.

Knowing she was receiving the right nutrition at such a critical stage made a huge difference. Any advancement that improves outcomes for these tiny babies and helps families feel more connected to their child’s journey, is invaluable.”

 

From implementation to policy

PremSmart also highlights an important part of healthcare innovation: ensuring that new approaches work in real-world settings and can be sustained over time.

Experiences in other countries have shown that scaling up new nutrition systems can carry risks if not carefully managed. In response, the PremSmart programme has focused not only on developing the system, but also on understanding how it works in practice — including training, support and day-to-day use.

This work is now helping to inform how the system is supported nationally, from training to audit and oversight. In doing so, PremSmart is beginning to shape how this type of care is delivered and maintained across the health service.

 

A model for impact

PremSmart is more than a single innovation. It shows how research, when closely connected to clinical practice, can lead to real and lasting change.

The next phase is already underway. PremSmart 2.0 is being developed as a digital platform, with the potential to further support decision-making and open up new ways of involving parents in their baby’s care.

At its heart, this work is about giving preterm babies the best possible start in life. It demonstrates how research embedded in frontline healthcare can move beyond discovery to reshape care for some of the health service’s most vulnerable patients.

 

 

About the research 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.

 

Together, they lead the Neonatal Clinical Nutrition Research Group at INFANT, focusing on translating research into innovative solutions at the cot-side and delivering measurable improvements in outcomes for babies and the health service.

 

 

 

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Preparing for the next pandemic: Lessons from COVID-19, pregnancy and the power of better data

By |2026-09-17T11:05:26+01:00July 2nd, 2026|

Preparing for the next pandemic: Lessons from COVID-19, pregnancy and the power of better data

While COVID-19 may no longer dominate headlines, the lessons learned during the pandemic continue to shape how healthcare systems prepare for future public health emergencies. This is particularly true when it comes to protecting pregnant women and their babies.

 

When COVID-19 emerged, pregnant women faced uncertainty at every turn. Questions about infection risks, vaccine safety, and the potential impact on unborn babies created anxiety for expectant mothers and challenges for healthcare professionals trying to provide evidence-based guidance in real time.

In the early stages of the pandemic, reliable evidence on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy was limited internationally. In Ireland, only 58% of new and expectant mothers had received a COVID-19 vaccine, while studies from the United Kingdom suggested that unvaccinated pregnant women infected with COVID-19 were more likely to require intensive care treatment.

“Monitoring COVID-19 infection and vaccination during pregnancy is important because we know that during pregnancy a woman can be at greater risk of becoming severely ill from the virus,” explains Professor Ali Khashan, Principal Investigator at INFANT, and Professor in Epidemiology in the School of Public Health, UCC.

“When a vaccine becomes available, there is another question – should pregnant women take the vaccine or not?”

To help answer these questions, researchers from INFANT Research Centre at University College Cork (UCC), in partnership with Ulster University, launched the COVICAT project to better understand COVID-19 infection and vaccination during pregnancy across the island of Ireland.

While the project set out to answer questions about COVID-19 in pregnancy and risk of congenital anomalies, it also uncovered a broader challenge. Researchers found that important health information was often difficult to access and connect across systems, limiting the ability to rapidly generate evidence for pregnant women, clinicians and policymakers during a public health crisis.

One reason these findings matter is that pregnant women are generally excluded from clinical trials of new medicines and vaccines.

Dr Mary O’Mahony, Consultant in Public Health Medicine and collaborator on the project, explains:

“Projects such as COVICAT highlight the importance of robust data systems that allow us to monitor the safety and effectiveness of public health interventions during pregnancy and provide reassurance for women and the healthcare professionals caring for them.”

Reflecting on the project’s wider implications, Dr O’Mahony adds that “validated routine surveillance data can inform pandemic response to improve outcomes.”

Without access to high-quality population data, generating timely evidence during a public health emergency becomes significantly more difficult.

Researchers sought to better understand patterns of COVID-19 infection and vaccine uptake during pregnancy across the island of Ireland, and explore whether infection or vaccination was associated with congenital anomalies during foetal development.

By comparing systems north and south of the border, the researchers identified major differences in how maternal health data was collected, linked and used for research. In Northern Ireland, unique Health and Care identification numbers allowed maternity, infection, and vaccination records to be connected across healthcare databases, enabling population-level research.

In contrast, researchers encountered significant challenges accessing comparable data in the Republic of Ireland. Pregnancy status was not consistently recorded across vaccination and infection databases, while fragmented systems and limited data linkage made it difficult to answer urgent public health questions quickly during a rapidly evolving pandemic.

The lessons from COVICAT were subsequently translated into peer-reviewed publications and a policy brief, which outlined practical recommendations to improve data access, linkage and maternal health surveillance. These recommendations included accelerating the implementation of Individual Health Identifiers (IHIs), strengthening data linkage across healthcare systems and streamlining access to population health data for research and public health decision-making.

“In our experience of seeking to access data about pregnancy and COVID-19 infection and vaccination, once we were put in touch with the right individuals, they were very helpful,” says Professor Khashan. “But there are systemic issues that need to be addressed for the data to be useful for delivering better healthcare.”

Beyond identifying gaps in the system, the project demonstrated how better data can directly support patients and clinicians during future health emergencies.

“Better collection and use of data would help the healthcare system to prepare initially and then monitor the health of these populations during an emergency,” says Professor Khashan. “This would provide reliable evidence to inform timely public health interventions and support to help them.”

For pregnant women and healthcare professionals, this means faster access to the evidence needed to make informed decisions during future public health emergencies.

The project’s European analysis, using EUROCAT data, is expected to contribute valuable evidence around COVID-19 infection, vaccination uptake, and risk of congenital anomalies, helping clinicians provide informed advice and reassuring pregnant women who may have concerns about vaccination.

The work reinforced the importance of cross-border collaboration in addressing shared healthcare challenges. The partnership brought together expertise in public health, epidemiology, maternal health, congenital anomaly surveillance and health data research from both sides of the border.

“The all-island approach was critical because infections know no borders,” says Dr Maria Loane, Leader of the Centre for Maternal, Fetal an Infant Research at Ulster University and Co-Principal Investigator of COVICAT. “Bringing together expertise and data from both jurisdictions allowed us to compare healthcare systems, identify important gaps and demonstrate why stronger maternal health data infrastructure will be essential for responding to future pandemics and public health emergencies.”

The collaboration demonstrated how research partnerships can help identify shared challenges, accelerate learning and generate evidence that improves healthcare policy and future pandemic preparedness.

Although the pandemic has passed, the lessons from COVICAT remain highly relevant. The project demonstrated that protecting pregnant women and babies during public health emergencies requires not only scientific expertise, but also accessible health data, strong research partnerships and collaboration across healthcare systems.

Through collaborative research and all-island partnership, COVICAT has helped strengthen understanding of how health systems can better support pregnant women, clinicians and policymakers during times of crisis, while helping to build more resilient healthcare systems for the future.

 

 

Further reading

COVICAT was recently featured in the Higher Education Authority’s North South Research Programme: Insights on Impact report, which showcases the impact of all-island research collaborations.

 

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From Evidence to Impact: Dr Chrsitine Cassidy Opens UCC Futures Children Seminar Series

By |2026-05-20T12:53:02+01:00May 20th, 2026|

The inaugural UCC Futures Children seminar of the year brought together researchers, clinicians, academic and professional staff, and others interested in improving outcomes for children and families.

Opening the event, Professor Geraldine Boylan, Director of UCC Futures Children and INFANT Research Centre, highlighted the importance of creating stronger connections across disciplines at University College Cork (UCC), recognising that children’s outcomes are shaped not only by healthcare, but by education, family supports, environment and wider social systems.

Reflecting on the importance of implementation and impact, Professor Boylan noted:

“If we can’t implement research into practice, policy, systems or technology, what was the point of doing it in the first place?”

The keynote lecture was delivered by Dr Christine Cassidy, Associate Professor at Dalhousie University and Clinician Scientist specialising in child health at IWK Health. Introduced by Dr Rachel Flynn, School of Nursing, UCC, Dr Cassidy explored why implementation science and knowledge translation are essential to ensuring research delivers real-world change.

A central theme of the talk was the persistent gap between research and practice. Cassidy highlighted that despite the volume of healthcare research produced globally, evidence does not always translate into practice or policy, while some care delivered may still be low-value or even harmful.

Dr Cassidy emphasised that implementation should not be considered an afterthought once research is complete.

“We need to design research with implementation and impact in mind from the very beginning.”

Throughout the seminar, Dr Cassidy highlighted the importance of research co-production approaches that involve researchers, clinicians, patients, families and communities throughout the research process to ensure findings are relevant, usable and sustainable in real-world settings.

Drawing on examples from her work at the IWK Health Centre, Dr Cassidy demonstrated how collaborative implementation approaches can successfully bridge the gap between evidence and practice, particularly in improving transitions from paediatric to adult healthcare services.

Key themes that emerged from the talk included:

  • Embedding implementation and impact planning into research from the outset
  • Building stronger partnerships between researchers, clinicians, patients and families
  • Developing implementation science capacity within health systems
  • Creating “learning health systems” that continuously connect data, research and care
  • Ensuring equity and sustainability are integrated throughout implementation processes

Dr Cassidy also shared practical examples from her own implementation science research throughout the seminar, illustrating how evidence can be successfully translated into practice. Her presentation, including links to related publications and projects, has kindly been shared here: UCC Futures Children – Christine Cassidy Presentation 2026

The seminar reinforced the vision behind UCC Futures Children: bringing together expertise across disciplines to support research that not only advances knowledge, but creates measurable improvements in children’s lives.

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The gender gap in autism: why we need to do better for girls

By |2026-04-02T09:25:18+01:00April 2nd, 2026|

The gender gap in autism: why we need to do better for girls

Autism diagnosis can be a long and complex process. For some children, assessment takes years. Girls in particular are often identified much later than boys, sometimes not until adolescence meaning they can miss years of support when it matters most.

At the INFANT Research Centre in University College Cork, Dr Jane English is investigating whether biological signals present at birth could help change that timeline.

Her research focuses on identifying early-life biomarkers that may one day support earlier identification of autism, particularly those who could benefit from additional monitoring and support.

The aim is not to diagnose autism at birth, but to build the scientific foundation for earlier screening. If successful, this work could help reduce delays in identification and ensure more children, especially girls, receive support earlier in life.

“The overarching goal is to facilitate early intervention in children with autism.” English explains. “At the moment, diagnosis is complex, and quite often children are not diagnosed until the ages of four or five, and in some cases, much later”.

 

A system under pressure

In Ireland, autism diagnosis typically involves a multidisciplinary team assessment. While comprehensive, the system is under significant strain.

“There are thousands of families on waiting lists for a first-time autism assessment, with waiting times exceeding two years,” English says. “It is extremely challenging for families.”

Early intervention services such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and structured parent support can significantly improve a child’s development and quality of life.

However, timing is only part of the challenge. Gender also plays a role in when and how autism is recognised.

 

Why girls with autism are often missed

“We tend to catch boys earlier than girls,” English says. “The diagnostic criteria were largely designed around male-dominated profiles, and some females with autism do not fit this pattern.”

While boys may show more outward behaviours that are easier to recognise, girls are more likely to internalise their difficulties. They may appear shy or anxious while masking social discomfort and sensory challenges. As a result, their needs often go unnoticed, or they are misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression.

Recent research suggest that Autism is just as common in girls as in boys, yet boys are up to four times more likely to be diagnosed in childhood.

“The girls are there, but the system is just failing to see them” says English. “Delaying a diagnosis does not mean she is ‘fine’.  It means she misses crucial support.”

This gap also affects research. Studies have historically focused more on males, limiting understanding of how autism presents biologically in females. Expanding female-focused research is therefore central to improving identification and support.

 

Investigating early-life biology

We know autism begins in the womb. That is why Dr English’s research focuses on the prenatal environment and the interaction between mother, placenta, and fetus.

Her team studies maternal cord blood collected immediately after delivery to identify molecular patterns linked to later autism diagnosis.

“We are looking for a molecular signature, like a fingerprint, in cord blood at birth,” explains Aisling Noone, a final year PhD student in the Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience.

Using large bio-banked pregnancy cohorts, researchers compare samples from children who later received an autism diagnosis and compare them with neurotypical children. This allows them to identify biological pathways associated with neurodevelopment.

This work is still in the discovery and validation phase.

“This type of research takes time,” English says. “The priority is to understand the biology properly and to replicate findings across populations.”

The team is particularly interested in inflammation and steroid biology during pregnancy. These factors alone cannot predict autism, but alongside genetic susceptibility they may offer important clues about how early development shapes later outcomes.

Understanding complexity

Autism is influenced by a complex interplay of genetic, biological and environmental factors. Rather than focusing on single markers, English’s team integrates multiple layers of information to help predict outcome.

This includes biomarker data alongside maternal clinical information such as mental health, stress, pregnancy complications, infection, and infant birth weight. Machine learning models are then used to explore how these factors interact.

“Instead of stripping away complexity, we incorporate it,” she says. “If something is going to be useful in practice, it has to work in the real world.”

This approach represents a shift towards understanding networks of risk and resilience, rather than searching for a single defining cause.

 

From discovery to responsible translation

The long-term ambition is not to provide a definitive diagnosis at birth. English is careful to draw that distinction.

“If the evidence supports it, this could one day contribute to a voluntary approach that helps families understand their child’s needs earlier.” English says.

In principle, such a system might resemble existing newborn screening frameworks, where parents opt in and receive information that supports monitoring and follow-up. Any future screening pathway would require extensive validation, ethical evaluation and close collaboration with clinicians and families.

For now, the work remains focused on strengthening the scientific evidence.

 

Looking ahead

Translating biomarker research into screening tools will take time, larger datasets, and continued collaboration across research and clinical communities. Expanding female-focused studies will also be essential so future approaches reflect the full diversity of how autism presents.

Much remains to be understood about how early biological signals relate to later neurodevelopment. But by investigating the earliest stages of life, this research is helping to build a stronger foundation for earlier identification.

Over time, these advances could help ensure that fewer children wait years for answers, and that girls who are currently overlooked are recognised earlier and supported sooner.

 

Acknowledgements:

This research was supported by the Irish Health Research Board (HRB) through an award to Dr Jane English.

For those interested in following this research or supporting future work in this area, please contact Merrin Browne, Research Engagement and Partnerships Manager, at merrinbrowne@ucc.ie or help support future research here.

 

 

 

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Parents’ voices helping shape cerebral palsy research

By |2026-03-24T15:45:54+00:00March 24th, 2026|

Parents’ voices helping shape cerebral palsy research

 

Research is strongest when it reflects the realities of the people it aims to support.

At the INFANT Research Centre at University College Cork (UCC), parents are helping shape cerebral palsy research through the Cerebral Palsy Parent Advisory Group (CP-PAG). The group is part of the wider ELEVATE research programme and the National Cerebral Palsy Programme, which aim to improve early diagnosis, care pathways and long-term outcomes for children with cerebral palsy in Ireland.

The advisory group brings together parents who share their lived experience to help guide research aimed at improving care, support and outcomes for children with cerebral palsy.

For Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day (25 March), INFANT is highlighting the role parents play in ensuring research reflects the priorities and everyday experiences of families.

Parents involved in the group say their perspectives help researchers better understand what life with cerebral palsy looks like beyond clinical settings.

“We are living the reality every day,” says Kirsty, whose four-year-old son Andre has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

“We can offer perspective into things researchers might not realise are important but matter greatly to families.”

 

Pictured left, Kirsty Diaso with her husband, daughter, and son Andre, who has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy; pictured right, Kirsty and Andre.

 

Why lived experience matters in research

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong neurological condition that affects movement, posture and coordination. For many families, the journey after diagnosis involves navigating therapies, services and everyday challenges that are not always visible in clinical research.

Cristín, whose six-year-old son Alex was diagnosed shortly after his first birthday, says involving parents helps bring a human perspective to research.

“Involving parents transforms research from a clinical study into a human-centred one,” she explains.

“Parents bring lived experience that can help researchers understand what families are going through, especially during the emotional and uncertain time around diagnosis.”

Parents in the advisory group contribute in a number of ways, including helping shape research questions, reviewing study design and ensuring research priorities reflect what matters most to families. They have also contributed to over 20 research studies and helped develop national resources for families, making research more accessible and relevant to those living with cerebral palsy.

 

Understanding the realities families face

For many parents, everyday life highlights the barriers that still exist for children with disabilities.

Cristín says some challenges are small but persistent.

“Sometimes it’s things like trying to find adapted shoes that fit over orthotics or checking whether somewhere is accessible before we go out.”

Others highlight wider inequalities in systems designed without disabled children in mind.

She points to the contrast between her children’s school journeys.

“One child can walk ten minutes to school, while the other has to sit on a bus for over an hour to attend a special school that can meet their needs.”

Experiences like these help researchers understand the broader social and practical challenges families face every day.

 

Challenging assumptions about disability

Parents also hope greater awareness will help challenge assumptions about children with physical disabilities.

Cristín says one of the biggest challenges Alex faces is not always mobility.

“It’s the assumption that because he has a physical disability, he cannot understand what people are saying,” she says.

“I would love to see more people stop talking past Alex to me. Get down to his level and speak directly to him.”
For families, awareness is not only about understanding the condition itself, but also about recognising the abilities, personalities and voices of the children living with it.

 

Pictured left: Cristin McCormack, and son Alex, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy shortly after his first birthday; pictured right, the family enjoying a day out together.

 

From lived experience to better research

Since her son’s diagnosis, Kirsty has taken a strong interest in cerebral palsy research and how it can improve care and support for families.

She recently launched Cerebral Palsy Social (@cerebralpalsysocial), a support network for parents and caregivers of children with cerebral palsy.

For her, contributing to research is another way parents can help shape a better future.

“Cerebral palsy is not a curable condition,” she says. “But with the right therapies, supports and understanding, people with cerebral palsy can thrive and live full lives.”

She believes involving parents in research focuses on outcomes that truly matter to children and families. Embedding parent voices in research from the outset also means programmes like ELEVATE can drive real-world improvements in care, support and outcomes for children and families across Ireland.

 

Looking toward a more inclusive future

For parents like Kirsty and Cristín, Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day is an opportunity not only to raise awareness but also to build understanding.

“To me, CP Awareness Day is about bridging the gap between awareness of CP as a label and a true understanding of what a diagnosis means,” says Cristín.

“It’s an opportunity to celebrate our amazing children while also highlighting the challenges families face and working toward a future where every child with cerebral palsy grows up in an inclusive and supportive community.”

Through initiatives such as the Cerebral Palsy Parent Advisory Group, parent voices are helping ensure research reflects the realities of families and contributes to better care and support in the future.

 

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Postdoctoral Researcher Opportunity

By |2026-03-24T12:47:22+00:00March 24th, 2026|

 

Postdoctoral Researcher Opportunity

INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork
Fixed Term: 24 Months (Full-Time)

The INFANT Research Centre at University College Cork is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the SOPHIE Project (School-age Outcome Prediction using radiomic imaging algorithms in Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy).

About the Project

The SOPHIE project aims to improve how we predict long-term outcomes for infants affected by hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). This research focuses on developing advanced MRI-based biomarkers that can help identify children at risk of altered brain development and cognitive challenges at school age.

The project involves:

  • MRI scanning and neurocognitive assessment of school-age children with a history of HIE, alongside matched controls
  • Advanced quantitative MRI analysis
  • Identification of imaging features linked to neurodevelopmental outcomes
  • Development of machine learning models to predict future brain development
  • Integration of imaging and clinical data to improve early prediction tools

Role Overview

The successful candidate will contribute to a multidisciplinary research programme combining neuroimaging, data analysis, and machine learning to advance understanding of early brain injury and long-term outcomes.

Salary

€46,805 – €53,391 per annum (IUA PD1 Salary Scale)

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via the University College Cork recruitment portal:
👉 https://ore.ucc.ie/

Job Ref: 094673

For full details and the information package, please visit the link above.

Informal Enquiries

Prof Brian Walsh
📧 brianhenry.walsh@ucc.ie

Key Dates

  • Closing Date: Friday, 3 April 2026 (12:00 noon, Irish time)
  • Interviews: Scheduled for the following week (online)

Equality & Inclusion

University College Cork is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.
More information: https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/

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Children Needed For Research Study: The SOPHIE Study

By |2026-02-13T16:17:56+00:00February 5th, 2026|

The SOPHIE Study is a research study at University College Cork and Cork University Maternity Hospital/Cork University Hospital. Researchers at INFANT, UCC are looking for healthy children aged 5-11 years old to take part in this study. The study is looking to recruit more participants. 

  • What is the Study? 

‘SOPHIE’ is an acronym for ‘School-aged Outcomes Post Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy’. Some children are diagnosed with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) after birth. These babies need extra help after delivery, due to issues with oxygen and blood flow to their brain. They are admitted to the neonatal unit and receive special treatment to help their brain to recover.

There is very little information on how children who have been diagnosed with HIE in the newborn period continue to develop after two years of age. We know that some children have difficulties at school, but we don’t know how to identify these children early so that we can intervene sooner and improve their long-term outcomes.

We are looking for healthy children to volunteer also to have a developmental assessment and if they wish, an MRI brain scan.

The project is supervised by supervisors from University College Cork, Cork University Hospital, and INFANT Research Centre.

  • Who is it for? 

Healthy children aged 5-11 years old who have no known developmental issues. Children are eligible if they were born after 36 weeks gestation and were not admitted to the neonatal unit within 12 hours of birth.

  • What do I need to do?

The study has two parts – the first visit is for the developmental assessment. The second visit is optional, for an MRI brain scan. Both visits take place at Cork University Hospital.

  1. Developmental assessment: This takes about 1.5 hours and involves a brief IQ test (using pictures and puzzles) and playing games on an iPad.
  2. MRI Brain: The scan itself takes about 20 minutes but you would be in CUH for about 1 hour in total.
    1. View more information about the MRI scan here: CUH Paediatric MRI (SOPHIE Study)
  • Why is this study being done?

By conducting these tests, we hope to gain information on how to identify issues earlier and improve long-term outcome in children diagnosed with HIE in the newborn period.

  • What are the benefits and risks of participating in this study?

By participating in this study, you are contributing to important research on childhood development and brain injury. The aim is that the results from this study will help to improve the outcomes for children and gain specific interventions sooner to maximise their developmental growth over early childhood.

It may be of interest to you or your child to have a developmental check, an IQ test, and/or an MRI brain scan. If there are findings from either visit that need to be discussed or addressed, a member of the consultant team will meet with the family and refer them to the appropriate services if necessary.

  • What is the time commitment?

1.5 hours for the developmental assessment which will take place in the Cork University Hospital.

1 hour for the MRI brain (20 minutes scanning time) which will take place in the Cork University Hospital.

  • What will happen to the results of this study?

The results of this study will be published in academic journals and presented at scientific meetings. You will never be identified individually during these presentations or any reports or publications. To ensure confidentiality, the data generated during this study is coded with a unique Study ID Number that will be allocated once your child is recruited to the study.

University College Cork (UCC) is the study’s Sponsor and will act as the data controller for this study. Any personal data which you provide to the University will be treated with the highest standards of security and confidentiality, in accordance with Irish and European Data Protection legislation.

  • Where can I get more information?

If you have any further questions regarding this study, please contact Dr Anne Murray: SOPHIE@ucc.ie

  • Interested in taking part in the study?

Fill out the enquiry form and a member of the research team will contact you: https://forms.office.com/e/1ajEMTUmDY

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Children Needed for Research Study: AIM-HIGH Feasibility Study

By |2026-03-24T15:09:24+00:00January 27th, 2026|

Overview

The AIM-HIGH Feasibility Study is a research study at the INFANT Research Centre at University College Cork (UCC) and Cork University Maternity Hospital(CUMH). Researchers at INFANT, UCC are looking for healthy infants aged between 22 – 26 months to take part in this study.

Express Interest here: https://forms.office.com/e/ZzAkScCcDG 

What is the Study?

In the INFANT Research Centre, we have developed a new way of measuring how well your child thinks, understands and learns about the world around them. The new test, CogniToT, is an interactive 20-minute tablet-based test involving playful tasks. Recently we have improved the design so that children with poorer vision can also complete the tasks. Before we test this in high-risk infants, but we need to see how healthy, normal-sighted children also perform on this new version. This is why we are asking for healthy children (22 – 26 months) to participate in this study.  

The study is supervised by clinical consultants from University College Cork, Cork University Hospital, and INFANT Research Centre.

Who is it for?

Healthy infants, born at term, now aged between 22- 26 months with no known developmental or visual concerns.

What do I need to do?

  • Attend a 1-hour visit at the INFANT Research Centre, Cork University Hospital.

During the visit, we will check your child’s vision, get them to complete the updated version of CogniToT (Figure 1) and then ask you to fill-out a quick questionnaire about your child’s development. All the tests are painless and will not distress your child.

Figure 1: CogniTOT – An easy, screen-based assessment of how your child thinks and learns.

Why is this study being done?

We hope to gain information on how healthy children perform on the updated CogniTOT test and help us to improve the test design.

What are the benefits and risks of participating in this study?

  • Help improve the design and advance child-friendly technology in healthcare
  • If we have concerns about your child’s vision or development, we will arrange referrals to appropriate services if necessary

What will happen to the results of this study?

The results of this study will be published in academic journals and presented at conferences. Your child will never be identified individually during these presentations or in any reports or publications. Your child will be given a unique study ID code when they start the study, so all information is linked only to this unique ID, keeping your child’ data anonymised and confidential.

UCC is sponsoring this study, and they will ensure that we are following the highest standards of security and confidentiality regarding data, and comply with Irish and European Data Protection legislation.

Where can I get more information?

If you have any further questions regarding this study, please contact Dr Matilda Biba: mbiba@ucc.ie

Interested in taking part in the study?

Fill out the enquiry form here: https://forms.office.com/e/ZzAkScCcDG and a member of the research team will contact you.

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