Investigating the impact of seizures on newborn brain

Seizures or 'fits' are a common manifestation of brain injury in babies, but current treatments are poorly effective. To guide new treatments, we need to improve understanding of the effects of seizures on developing brain and their effects on outcomes. Using a new light-based technology (broadband near-infrared spectroscopy and diffusion correlation spectroscopy) together with electroencephalography (EEG), I will investigate the changes resulting from seizures in brain blood flow, metabolism, oxygenation and the brain's ability to use oxygen for energy production. I will assess the impact of seizures in a laboratory model of an otherwise healthy brain and also in babies in neonatal intensive care who have brain injury, to understand how we might intervene. I will correlate the findings with changes seen in MRI scan and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. My research will enable us to understand the impacts of seizures better and modify our management strategy to improve neurodevelopmental outcome.