By Heather Hobbs
BRINGING YOU THE LATEST NEWS & EVENTS FROM THE SCIENCE INDUSTRY
Neuroimaging series supports understanding of premature infant development
A free online resource aimed at improving parental understanding of brain development in premature infants and its effects on breathing and apnoeas (the cessation of breathing) has been introduced by the Paediatric Neuroimaging Group at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
Launched by Principle Investigator Professor Caroline Hartley and Dr Marianne van der Vaart, Postdoctoral Researcher, My Baby’s Brain, was created in collaboration with parents of premature babies alongside SSNAP (Supporting sick newborn and their parents), a charity based in the Newborn Care Unit at the hospital.
Professor Hartley said: “In the UK, 1 in 13 babies is born prematurely. Apnoea of prematurity is a common problem in neonatal care, affecting around 50 percent of premature infants. Apnoeas are well-managed by the clinical team but can be worrying for parents. These animations have been put together with parents in mind, to give parents of premature babies a better understanding of how their baby’s brain is developing, how apnoea is linked to the immaturity of a premature infant’s brain and the techniques researchers use to investigate brain development.
“In our research we record baby’s brain activity using Electroencephalography (EEG). This allows us to measure
“Working together so closely with SSNAP and parents on this project has been extremely rewarding and enjoyable and has greatly enriched the animations which we hope will be a valuable resource for parents.”
Martin Realey, Charity Lead for SSNAP, said: “We are delighted to be able to support the creation of My Baby’s Brain which will be an indispensable tool to all parents to premature infants on neonatal units here in the John Radcliffe Hospital and across the country. They have been made with parents in mind to ensure the information is accessible and easy-to-understand. The videos can be accessed using QR codes making them available on mobile devices, allowing parents to choose a time that best suits them to watch and process the information.”
Animation team, My Baby’s Brain (Credit: University of Oxford)
the natural electrical activity of the brain by placing sensors on the baby’s head. We measure this alongside changes in the baby’s vital signs (breathing rate, heart rate, oxygen levels). Vital signs are measured in the neonatal unit as part of routine care. By measuring breathing and brain development together in premature babies we hope that we can better understand and treat apnoea.
Celebrating Women in Science
The series was funded by the Wellcome Trust Enriching Engagement programme, an initiative created to support researchers’ public engagement outreach. Professor Hartley is a Sir Henry Dale Fellow at the Department of Paediatrics.
More information online:
ilmt.co/PL/EV97 62270pr@reply-direct.com
Silver UK STEM award for skin cancer device
Sali Davis (Credit: RMS)
RMS Chief Executive Sali Davis joined the line-up of speakers at the ITSHER Scientific Conference, part of the Women in STEM Summit
2024.The groundbreaking event which was held on 7-8 March brought together top female researchers and businesses in the UK and Ireland to celebrate science, research and innovations by women across all disciplines in STEMM.
The interdisciplinary conference took place simultaneously at the Institute of Physics (IOP), London and Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Dublin, with a scientific programme that offered a blend of powerful talks and enlightening poster presentations. The sessions and panel discussions could also be watched interchangeably through live stream.
Including topics covering all STEMM disciplines: Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, Health Sciences, Life Sciences and Material Science, the programme was also enriched by special sessions and panel discussions devoted to career development in academia and industry for female professionals. Innovation Sessions presented the opportunity to receive feedback from industry practitioners.
More information online:
ilmt.co/PL/Lo7z 62129pr@reply-direct.com
Innovative research led by Dr David Bajek, a researcher for the University of Dundee’s School of Medicine and NHS Tayside’s Photobiology Unit at Ninewells Hospital, has received the Silver Award for Physics at STEM for Britain, in recognition of the importance of his work in detecting skin cancer tumours without the use of invasive surgeries.
He has developed a handheld device containing infrared lasers the size of a penny, which operates using a technique similar to ultrasound by sending light into the body which is reflected back and creating an image of the layers of tissue inside. This Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) method is already used by opticians looking into the eye but applying it to skin tissue is a more complex process. In the near future Dr Bajek’s device could not only be used to diagnose tumours, but also to more closely monitor areas which have previously been treated for cancer.
Dr Bajek was shortlisted from hundreds of applicants from across the UK to present in front of MPs at Westminster, during which time a panel of prestigious judges from
STEM industries selected winners.
“I was surprised when the winners were announced,” he said, “I wasn’t expecting it. There’s a lot of remarkable research going on and the judges must have had a difficult job picking the winners because the research comes from a wide variety of important fields in physics.
“I am passionate about what I do and they said that came across when I was talking about my work.I’m really lucky that my desk [at Ninewells] is right next to where NHS patients are treated, which inspires me to do everything I can to help them.”
Dr Bajek also researches treatments for skin conditions including photosensitivity and the award was also in recognition of this area of his work, for example treating patients with conditions so extreme that just two or three minutes outside can cause severe burns, rashes and pain, while others can be sensitive to UV emitted by lightbulbs inside some environments.
“The thing that comes up time and time again with these patients is the lack of understanding at work or school,” he said of those with photosensitivity. “It’s terribly misunderstood and people don’t
David Bajek (Credit: University of Dundee) realise how life-altering it can be.”
In response to this, Dr Bajek is developing a number of medical and personal devices which will allow patients to monitor their exposure to light, as well as select the best protective clothing and sunscreens to manage their symptoms.
More information online:
ilmt.co/PL/XO2K
62302pr@reply-direct.com
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