News2021-11-05T07:56:36+00:00

INFANT Centre News

CergenX, INFANT spin-out raises €1.2m in funding to develop newborn brain screening

Cork-based medtech company CergenX has raised €1.2 million in funding to further develop its technology to screen newborns for brain injury. CergenX is a spin-out from the Infant Centre in UCC. Founded by chief executive Jason Mowles, chief science officer Professor Geraldine Boylan and chief technology officer Sean Griffin in 2021. The company is currently developing a system that uses artificial intelligence to screen all newborns for signs of brain injury in less than 15 minutes. The funding was raised through a private financing round, with participation from high net worth individuals and existing investor Enterprise Ireland. It brings to €2 million the total raised by the company to date. The money will be used to support the development of the newborn brain screener, expanding its staff with roles in artificial intelligence, product management, and software engineering and accelerating the company’s path to market. CergenX is a spin-out from the Infant Centre in UCC. Founded by chief executive Jason Mowles, chief science officer Professor Geraldine Boylan and chief technology officer Sean Griffin in 2021, the company is currently developing a system that uses artificial intelligence to screen all newborns for signs of brain injury in less than 15 minutes. “This latest investment not only validates the immense potential of our newborn brain screener but also demonstrates the confidence our investors have in our vision,” Mr [...]

By |July 10th, 2023|Categories: In the press, News|Tags: , , |0 Comments

INFANT PI, Prof Keelin O’Donoghue awarded Distinguished Researcher Award

INFANT PI, Professor Keelin O’Donoghue was awarded the International Stillbirth Alliance (ISA) Distinguished Researcher Award for her contribution or her contribution to research on stillbirth/newborn death. The award was conferred at the closing ceremony of the 2023 conference, hosted at the University of Sheffield from 30 June to 02 July. Announcing the award, Professor Adrienne Gordon said: “She has been awarded this on the unanimous decision by the Board to reflect her years of significant research around stillbirth, most particularly in Ireland where she is continuing to strive for best practice care for families and high quality evidence, particularly in terms of the national standards, so we thank you Keelin for all that you do.” Professor O’Donoghue, along with 11 other members of the Pregnancy Loss Research Group, attended the International Stillbirth Alliance (ISA) Conference 2023 at The University of Sheffield from 30 June to 02 July, showcasing a variety of work undertaken by the Group in the areas of: Stillbirth Spirituality Recurrent miscarriage COVID 19 Perinatal pathology Fetal fatal anomalies Termination of pregnancy Multiple pregnancy Workplace supports for pregnancy loss Knowledge translation Graphic medicine. Source: News and media | University College Cork (ucc.ie)

By |July 6th, 2023|Categories: News|Tags: , |0 Comments

Cerebral Palsy Foundation awards €1.6 million funding to UCC

Cerebral Palsy Foundation awards €1.6 million funding to University College Cork to support cerebral palsy education and research Funding of €1.6 million will support UCC’s appointment of a Chair in Early Brain Injury and Cerebral Palsy. The Cerebral Palsy Foundation Chair will lead research in early brain injury and cerebral palsy at the Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT), UCC. University College Cork (UCC) and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation today announced the creation of a new Chair in Early Brain Injury and Cerebral Palsy. The new ‘Cerebral Palsy Foundation Chair’ is made possible thanks to generous support of €1.6 million from the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, a global not-for-profit organisation committed to creating positive change for those with Cerebral Palsy and related disabilities. The appointed Chair will lead a programme of research and public engagement that will empower the voice of young children and families living with cerebral palsy. Currently the most common lifelong physical disability acquired during childhood, cerebral palsy is diagnosed in approximately 150 children each year in Ireland. Early diagnosis in babies can lead to much better outcomes. The Cerebral Palsy Foundation’s partnership with UCC will enable researchers at INFANT to generate critical knowledge that will transform outcomes for children with Cerebral Palsy and their families. “On behalf of UCC, I sincerely thank the Cerebral Palsy Foundation for their transformational [...]

By |June 6th, 2023|Categories: In the press, News|0 Comments

Cerebral Palsy Foundation Launches Programme of Excellence in Ireland

Cerebral Palsy Foundation Launches Programme of Excellence to Revolutionise Cerebral Palsy Care in Ireland Foundation partnering with University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Children’s Health Ireland to establish Ireland as an international leader for Cerebral Palsy care and research   Dublin, Ireland - The Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF) has announced the launch of a Programme of Excellence to revolutionise the delivery of cerebral palsy care in Ireland. Through the development of three major clinical and research hubs at University College Cork (UCC), Trinity College Dublin (TCD), and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, this first-of-its-kind initiative will establish Ireland as an international leader in cerebral palsy care and research. Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) is an implementation partner in the academic healthcare programme. Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common childhood-acquired, lifelong physical disability. Many individuals with CP face significant and unnecessary challenges in their daily lives, including problems with movement, speech, and other body systems. An estimated 150 babies receive a CP diagnosis in Ireland each year, and an estimated 3,000 children and young people and 9,500 adults are living with CP in Ireland. Early intervention and the right care pathways can make a significant difference in the long-term outcomes and quality of life for people living with CP. Backed by $12.5 million in philanthropic funding [...]

By |May 22nd, 2023|Categories: In the press, News|0 Comments

BASELINE Birth Cohort study

The BASELINE Birth Cohort study is Ireland’s opportunity to establish a longitudinal birth cohort with the potential to answer important questions in the study of diseases in early life, later childhood and beyond. It has the potential to identify risk factors for common disorders such as diabetes, eczema, and asthma. This study has the potential to transform the landscape of paediatric research in Ireland. In 2019/2020 reconsenting of the cohort was undertaken where all parents of participants were sent an updated GDPR compliant consent/assent form and asked to complete and send back to the centre. Approximately 634 replied positively and 25 requested either their data to be removed, their samples to be removed or both, therefore approximately 660 (30%) replied. The INFANT centre continues to store and analyse data and samples from participants who did not reconsent to the BASELINE study as a consent declaration was obtained from the Health Research Consent Declaration Committee (HRCDC) in 2021 which permits the continued storage and processing specifically for the BASELINE study and related research in the absence of reconsenting the participants. The Health Research Regulation (HRR) is also adhered to. Biosamples and personal data from the study continue to be processed for the purpose of the BASELINE study and are stored securely for future related research which can only be undertaken subject to Ethics Committee approval. We [...]

By |May 11th, 2023|Categories: News, On-going research|0 Comments

Launch of In4Kids Clinical Trial Network

A new network putting children at the centre of decision-making in healthcare was launched today at University College Cork. Funded by the Health Research Board (HRB), In4Kids, the Irish Network for Children’s Clinical Trials, will support innovative clinical research and trial design for children in Ireland. It is the first clinical trials network in Ireland to focus on children’s health. Better patient outcomes Evidence shows that research-active hospitals have better patient care outcomes. In4kids will allow healthcare staff and researchers throughout Ireland to work together through a multidisciplinary network, with access and support for participation in national and international clinical trials with particular emphasis on rare paediatric diseases and high medical need areas. The network is developing educational and training resources for everyone involved in clinical trials and will soon establish a young persons’ advisory group. The network also aims to ensure that children and their families are involved in clinical research from an early stage and that the research is relevant and accessible to them. In4kids is the Irish hub in the c4c network, a pioneering European network that aims to facilitate the development of new drugs and other therapies for the entire paediatric population. Children are not little adults Paediatric patients have developmental, physiological and psychological differences from adults. Medicines and treatments made for adults therefore cannot simply be applied to children. Professor Geraldine [...]

By |February 7th, 2023|Categories: In the press, News|0 Comments

Dr Simon Woodworth delivers keynote address at 2022 Pre-ICIS SIGDSA Symposium

Dr Simon Woodworth delivered one of the keynote addresses at the 2022 Pre-ICIS SIGDSA Symposium at Copenhagen Business School on 10th December, titled 'Using data to drive pregnancy care and health policy: The Kilimanjaro ULTRA project'. He also presented a prototype demonstration 'ULTRA: An Electronic Birth Registry for the Kilimanjaro Region'.

By |December 12th, 2022|Categories: News|0 Comments

Young Investigators Symposium

📢INFANT at the #YoungInvestigatorsSymposium   📍Trinity College Dublin @tcddublin   🗣️Lead Investigator @markosullivann will discuss the #Neurobell Project and research commercialization   👏Organized by @NeuroscienceIRL -Early Career Researchers Network (NSI-ECRN) committee

By |October 27th, 2022|Categories: News|0 Comments

New paper published by INFANT researchers

📣Check out this new paper by INFANT researchers   💡'Development of an EEG artefact detection algorithm and its application in grading neonatal #HypoxicIschemicEncephalopathy'   🔎Read full paper here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0957417422019352   #ConvolutionalNeuralNetwork #Neonatal #MachineLearning

By |October 25th, 2022|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT at #ISOQOL22

📢INFANT at #ISOQOL22   💡PhD Scholar Laura O'Byrne presents her important work on patient reported outcome measures for postpartum women   🎉Laura was also nominated for a Student Award for this important work   👏Well done Laura!!   @NPEC_UCC @hrbireland

By |October 24th, 2022|Categories: News|0 Comments

Seminar Series

📢INFANT Seminar Series continues this Friday   💡Scholarly Communications Librarian and CORA Manager, Donna O Doibhlin will present on available options for meeting funder requirements related to Open Access publishing of research papers.  

By |October 17th, 2022|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT Research Symposium…Clinical Trials in Neonatology

📢INFANT Research Symposium 💡Clinical Trials in Neonatology 🗓25 November 🔎Register for free here: https://eventbrite.ie/e/infant-research-symposiumclinical-trials-in-neonatology-tickets-440825981377 Eugene Dempsey In4kids Health Research Board (HRB) conect4children University College Cork Geraldine Boylan Jan Miletin Afif EL-Khuffash Haresh Kirpalani Neil Marlow Barbara Schmidt Brian Walsh Colm O'Donnell

By |October 13th, 2022|Categories: News|0 Comments

Baby Loss Awareness Week 2022

💚#BLAW2022   💜INFANT's Pregnancy Loss Research Group are dedicated to providing support & information to parents bereaved by early & late pregnancy loss   💚Promote their emotional, psychological, spiritual & physical well-being   💜Improve professional practice & facilitate research   🔎Find out more about The Pregnancy Loss Research Group here: https://www.ucc.ie/en/obsgyn/plrg/

By |October 11th, 2022|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT at EAPS

📢And that's a wrap on The European Academy of Paediatrics Congress 2022! 🎉A brilliant few days of sharing knowledge! 👏Well Done to everyone involved. ❤️We at INFANT are incredibly proud to be part of such a successful event. 👋Until next time!

By |October 11th, 2022|Categories: Uncategorised|0 Comments

INFANT at EAPS

📢The INFANT Research Centre is at The European Academy of Paediatrics Congress in Barcelona 🗣️Prof Geraldine Boylan is an invited speaker at the Tomorrow's World Session: 💡'Artificial intelligence in paediatrics – the future is now' 🔎Find out more about the #EAPS Congress here: https://eaps2022.kenes.com/scientific-programme/

By |October 11th, 2022|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT at EAPS

📢INFANT @EAPSCongress   🗣️PI Dr Jane English chairs:   💡'Proteomics, metabolomics, and machine learning: Can they aid in early detection of Autism?'   🔎Find out more about #EAPS here:   https://eaps2022.kenes.com/scientific-programme/   @JaneAEnglish

By |October 11th, 2022|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT at EAPS

📢INFANT at the European Academy of Paediatrics Congress 🗣️Dr Dave Healy presents: 💡E POSTER: 'BLOOD SAMPLING FROM UMBILICAL ARTERIAL CATHETERS MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH DECREASED FLOW IN THE SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY ' 🔎More about #EAPS: https://eaps2022.kenes.com/scientific-programme/

By |October 11th, 2022|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT at EAPS

📢INFANT at The European Academy of Paediatrics Congress 🗣️PI Dr Jane English presents: 💡E POSTER: 'FROM BIOMARKERS TO BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS IN AUTISM: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND MULTI-OMICS BIOINFORMATICS ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHT NEUROIMMUNE AND METABOLIC NETWORKS IMPLICATED' 🔎More about #EAPS: https://eaps2022.kenes.com/scientific-programme/

By |October 11th, 2022|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT at EAPS

📢INFANT @EAPSCongress   🗣️Neurophysiologist Dr Sean Mathieson presents:   💡E POSTER: 'EXPERT ANALYSIS COMPARED TO AUTOMATED ANALYSIS OF EEG FOR THE PREDICTION OF OUTCOME IN NEONATAL HYPOXIC ISCHAEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY'   🔎More about @EAPaediatrics Congress: https://eaps2022.kenes.com/scientific-programme/

By |October 11th, 2022|Categories: News|0 Comments

INFANT at EAPS

📢INFANT at the European Academy of Paediatrics Congress in Barcelona   🗣️PI Prof Deirdre Murray chairs:   💡'Tomorrow's World: Future intervention for brain development'   🔎Find out more about #EAPS here:   https://eaps2022.kenes.com/scientific-programme/   @demurray

By |October 11th, 2022|Categories: News|0 Comments