INFANT - Irish Centre for Foetal and Neonatal Translational Research - Cork

INFANT addresses unmet worldwide clinical needs for effective screening tests for the most common complications of pregnancy and the most significant problems for newborns. One in five pregnancies is complicated by pre-eclampsia, preterm birth or fetal growth restriction. In half of affected cases, the disease is so severe that maternal or infant morbidity or mortality can result. For the fetus, the short journey down the birth canal is one of the most dangerous. Some 5% of newborns experience asphyxia at birth, and might later develop brain injury and seizures. The creation of next generation devices to facilitate point-of-care and remote monitoring and diagnostics will transform antenatal and neonatal healthcare and service delivery on a global level, and position Ireland at the forefront.

Access to world first technologies allows INFANT’s industry partners to deliver innovative solutions to global markets, creating exciting economic opportunities and delivering sustainable high knowledge value jobs in Ireland.

The Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT), located at Cork University Maternity Hospital, is Ireland’s first dedicated perinatal research centre.

The centre’s mission is to make pregnancy safer and to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies worldwide. Their multi-disciplinary collaborative research and an array of industry partnerships make INFANT an international leader of discovery and innovation in perinatal healthcare.

Research areas:

INFANT is committed to innovative, life-changing research and technology that will reduce the impact of perinatal disease worldwide.

Across pregnancy, birth and infancy, INFANT is solving challenges and measuring impacts on maternal and child health. INFANT is industry facing and explores commercial opportunities with industry partners.

INFANT’s key areas of exploration are:

• Biomarkers
• Biomedical Engineering
• Connected Health
• Nutrition
• Therapeutics

Research performed by:

• University College Cork
• The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RSCI)
• National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG)
• Trinity College Dublin

Funded by:

Infant Centre Website