INFANT Centre News

Tuesday 19 May 2015 A report in the Irish Times highlights studies that seek to meet the needs of tiny babies in neonatal intensive care units. The article explores work being done at INFANT to test a cot-side monitor to detect brain seizures in babies in the NICU. “Some babies are at risk of having brain seizures, but you can’t always tell just by looking at them that they are seizing. And if we don’t know when they are seizing, we don’t know when to treat them,” explains Geraldine Boylan, professor of neonatal physiology at UCC and a director of the Irish Centre For Fetal and Neonatal Translational (INFANT) research centre. To alert clinical staff to a problem, the researchers in INFANT have developed specialised software that can track the electrical signals coming from small electrode pads placed on the baby’s head: it automatically detects when a seizure is starting, and sends an alert. The work, which was funded by agencies such as the Health Research Board, Science Foundation Ireland and the Wellcome Trust, has led to a clinical trial of the technology in NICUs in Cork, Dublin, London, Sweden and the Netherlands. “We would like this technology to be next to every cot in every NICU in the world, keeping an eye on these babies’ brains around the clock, and we hope that it will allow brain monitoring in [...]

Thursday 26 March 2015 On Thursday Novermber 13th, Dr Ali Khashan organised INFANT’s hosting of a public forum on C-sections. The event was attended by over 200 people. Speakers included clinicians, patients and INFANT researchers. Details of this and future related events can be had by contacting Ali by emaila.khashan@ucc.ie

Tuesday 02 December 2014 New partnership announced to develop biomarker test for spontaneous preterm birth with Waters Corporation and INFANT. Prof. Louise Kenny and Dr. Anthony Morrissey of INFANT, Cork and Mike Harrington, Waters Corporation pictured here in Washington DC with the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny and Prof. Mark Ferguson, Director General, SFI. Attending an event hosted by the Irish Science Foundation Ireland to celebrate links between Irish science and US industry as part of the St Patrick’s Day Festival, the Taoiseach welcomed the significant announcement for all parties. The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, TD said, “This partnership is further evidence of the great progress Ireland has made in developing partnerships between industry and academia to deliver excellence in research and innovation. This new research programme has potential to make a real difference to the health of mothers and babies. I congratulate both INFANT and the Waters Corporation on this endeavour and have no doubt we will hear more about the progress of this project as it develops.”

Wednesday 02 April 2014 Professor Geraldine Boylan made the inaugural presentation at the quarterly lunchtime series of presentations on Women in Tech (STEM) which is organised by it@cork in conjunction with Cork City Council.  The presentation took place on Wednesday, 2nd of April at the Clarion Hotel in Cork city.  The free event was open to all. Geraldine spoke about how technology is used in everyday perinatal care including in the labour ward, the delivery suite and the neonatal Intensive care unit. She also discussed ongoing technology based research. Pictured with Geraldine (middle) are Debbie Sloggett, Qualcomm (sponsors of the event) and Caroline O’Driscoll, KPMG & Director of it@cork.

Friday 20 September 2013 The Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research. The Centre was officially launched by Seán Sherlock, TD on Friday 20th September 2013, at Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Ireland