Improving the transition at birth in asphyxiated infants

Approximately 9000 newborns die in developing countries every day because of asphyxia – 30-50% die on their birthday. Approximately 13% of infants that require resuscitation at birth actually have access to the appropriate facilities to receive this life-saving intervention. There is therefore a critical need to develop simple and translatable strategies that improve the transition at birth for asphyxiated infants. Our current research is focused on improving the transition at birth for asphyxiated preterm and term infants. This involves investigating the utility of delayed cord clamping, cord milking and improving resuscitation strategies including chest compressions delivery, with the ultimate aim of identifying strategies directly translatable to the developing world, which significantly reduces death and disability in this population. The experiments include whole-animal physiology, molecular biology and immunohistochemistry. Our current research is focused on improving the transition at birth for asphyxiated preterm and term infants. This involves investigating the utility of delayed cord clamping, cord milking and improving resuscitation strategies including chest compressions delivery, with the ultimate aim of identifying strategies directly translatable to the developing world, which significantly reduces death and disability in this population. The experiments include whole-animal physiology, molecular biology and immunohistochemistry.