Projects
Analgesia & Sedation in the Preterm Neonate: Brain Development and Outcome (Preterm Care)
The aim of this study is to assess the possible long-term effects of live-saving neonatal intensive care on brain health and neurodevelopment in preterm infants. In babies born very preterm, we are using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain scanning to look at how brain structure and function develop during the period of neonatal intensive care, and then following the babies carefully after hospital discharge to watch their development. In this way, we will learn more about NICU therapies and how they can affect outcome in preterm babies so that we can find the best ways of caring for babies in the NICU that promote brain development.
Stress, Brain, and Neurodevelopment in Children Born Preterm (Trajectories)
The purpose of the study is to understand when and how premature birth affects the brain. In this study, we look at premature babies using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain scanning) and follow them in the nursery follow-up clinic until they are around 8 years of age.
The Progression of Brain Injury in Term Newborns with Encephalopathy: Follow-up Study in Adolescence
This study examines the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of adolescents (13-18 years) who experienced neonatal encephalopathy. By comparing MRI scans from infancy and adolescence, it aims to identify lasting brain injury patterns and their impact on motor, language, and cognitive functions. The research hypothesizes that early brain abnormalities correlate with later deficits. Using advanced MRI techniques and standardized assessments, the study seeks to enhance early identification and intervention strategies, providing better prognostic information for clinicians and parents.
Brain Connectome and Neurodevelopment in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
This prospective cohort study focuses on neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a significant cause of childhood neurologic disability. It aims to investigate the impact of HIE on brain connectivity using advanced MRI techniques and clinical data. Conducted at BC Women’s Hospital NICU, the study will follow newborns >35 weeks’ gestation with suspected HIE to assess brain injury, predict cerebral palsy risk, and evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes at 3, 18, and 36 months. By enhancing our understanding of brain health outcomes after neonatal HIE, the research seeks to optimize early intervention strategies and provide crucial guidance for clinical counseling to support affected families.
Adolescent HIE: Adolescent Brain Health After Neonatal Encephalopathy
This study follows teens who were diagnosed with neonatal encephalopathy as newborns. By repeating MRI scans and developmental testing in adolescence, we aim to understand how early brain injury shapes long-term brain health, learning, and motor skills.
We’ll compare newborn MRI findings with brain structure and connectivity in adolescence, and link these results to cognitive, motor, and language outcomes. The goal is to identify early markers that predict long-term development and to help improve follow-up care and intervention strategies for children affected by neonatal encephalopathy.
Adolescent CHD: Brain and Cognitive Health in Teens with Congenital Heart Disease
This study follows adolescents who were born with transposition of the great arteries or single ventricle physiology. By combining MRI scans, cognitive testing, and questionnaires, we aim to understand how early heart surgery and lifelong CHD impact brain development, learning, and well-being in the teenage years. We’ll link clinical history with brain structure, connectivity, and thinking skills to identify factors that shape long-term outcomes. The goal is to improve follow-up care and support for youth growing up with CHD.
