Understanding the relationship between apnoeas and brain function in premature infants (360G-Wellcome-213486_Z_18_Z)

£841,963

Apnoea of prematurity is a common problem in neonatal care, affecting all preterm infants born before 29 weeks’ gestation. These potentially life-threatening events are associated with pronounced physiological instability, reduced cerebral oxygenation, and long-term consequences including reduced cognitive ability in childhood. However, it is unclear how these frequent intermittent episodes of hypoxia affect brain activity, and whether this alters brain development. The aim of this Fellowship is to understand the complex interplay between brain function and apnoeas in preterm infants. I will establish the effects of apnoeas on brain activity, considering how this is altered by the degree of physiological instability. I will identify biomarkers of apnoea to create a probabilistic model of the risk of apnoea so that early interventions can be provided. By conducting detailed longitudinal recordings of physiology from birth, and neurophysiological recordings weekly, I will investigate whether episodes of apnoea can alter the trajectory of brain development and whether this affects cognitive ability at 2 years of age. Gaining a better mechanistic understanding of the pathophysiology of apnoea is essential to improve treatment options, and could ultimately lead to better neurological outcome in prematurely-born children.

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Grant Details

Amount Awarded 841963
Applicant Surname Hartley
Approval Committee Sir Henry Dale Fellowship Interview Committee
Award Date 2018-10-17T00:00:00+00:00
Financial Year 2018/19
Grant Programme: Title Sir Henry Dale Fellowship
Internal ID 213486/Z/18/Z
Lead Applicant Dr Caroline Hartley
Partnership Name Royal Society/Wellcome Trust Sir Henry Dale Fellowship
Partnership Value 841963
Planned Dates: End Date 2024-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
Planned Dates: Start Date 2019-03-01T00:00:00+00:00
Recipient Org: Country United Kingdom
Region South East
Sponsor(s) Prof Georg Holländer