Infant Research Centre

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Infant Research Centre

INFANT is a Maternal and Child Health Research Centre hosted by University College Cork, situated in Cork University Hospital, Ireland.

INFANT focuses on making pregnancy and birth safer, fast-tracking research discoveries to the bed-side and cot-side. INFANT is Ireland's first dedicated perinatal research Centre. INFANT addresses the largely unmet worldwide clinical need for effective screening tests for the most common complications of pregnancy and the most significant problems for newborn babies. INFANT strives to have fundame

ntal societal impacts by changing the delivery of healthcare and improving outcomes for these vulnerable mothers and their babies.

02/06/2026

📣 We're excited to be back at the Cork Carnival of Science on 7–8 June in Fitzgerald Park!

Join us for Ireland's largest outdoor science engagement event, where families can enjoy a fantastic weekend of hands-on STEM activities, interactive exhibits, live shows and workshops.

💜 The Infant Research Centre team will be based on Discovery Drive, where visitors can meet our team, take part in engaging activities, and discover how research can make a difference to the lives of mothers, babies and children.

Whether you're a science enthusiast, a curious young explorer, or simply looking for a fun family day out, be sure to stop by and say hello.

📍 Discovery Drive, Fitzgerald Park
📅 Saturday 7 June & Sunday 8 June

We look forward to seeing you there!

28/05/2026

A few snaps from a really special day at the Early Neurodevelopmental Assessment Beyond CP Workshop 📸✨

Led by Prof Roslyn Boyd and Dr Carly Luke from The University of Queensland, participants received hands on HINE training alongside the latest evidence in early neurodevelopmental assessment and intervention.

So much expertise, openness and collaboration in the room, with clinicians, researchers and healthcare professionals coming together to learn, share experiences and build skills in early neurodevelopmental assessment.

One of the biggest takeaways from the day was the importance of early identification. The earlier neurodevelopmental challenges can be recognised, the earlier families can access supports, interventions and care pathways during a crucial stage of infant development.

Huge thanks to Professor Roslyn Boyd and Dr Carly Luke for such a valuable and engaging workshop 💜

26/05/2026

Over the weekend, Infant Research Centre was delighted to welcome families, researchers, parent advocates, and the wider community to our inaugural Showcase.

The event highlighted how studies including PREMOD, SafeBoosC, COSGOD, TREOCAPA, and Prometeus are helping improve care and outcomes for babies and families.

A sincere thank you to Professor Eugene Dempsey and our guest speakers, Professor Pauline Mescal and Mandy Daly, for being part of the day.

Most importantly, it was an opportunity to thank the families who make this research possible. Your experiences, support, and involvement continue to shape and strengthen our work.

At INFANT Research Centre, families are at the heart of everything we do.

This is not just research about families, it’s research WITH families 💜

20/05/2026

Clinical trials help answer important questions in healthcare. 👨‍🔬

They help researchers and healthcare teams understand which approaches improve care, lead to better outcomes, and provide the safest possible treatment for patients and families.

This , we are recognising the families, healthcare teams and researchers who make this research possible.

Infant Research Centre led the Irish contribution to SafeBoosC-III at Cork University Maternity Hospital, as part of an international trial focused on babies born extremely preterm, before 28 weeks of pregnancy.

The trial explored whether monitoring oxygen levels in a baby’s brain could help guide care during those critical early days for babies born extremely preterm and their families, and result in better short and long-term outcomes.

Research does not always give the answer people expect — but every answer helps build safer, better care.

To learn more about the outcomes of the SafeBoosC trial and other studies, join us on Saturday, 23 May for our Research to Results' event.

👉 Register at https://tinyurl.com/ResearchToResults

15/05/2026

Did you or someone you know take part in research with INFANT Research Centre? 💜

Families who participated in studies like PREMOD, COSGOD, SafeBoosC, TREOCAPA, and Prometeus helped shape research that is improving care for babies and families today.

On Saturday 23rd May, we’re inviting families, researchers, and the wider community to come together for a special event sharing the outcomes of these studies and what comes next.

👉🏼 Register here: https://tinyurl.com/ResearchToResults

Whether you participated in one of these studies or are simply interested in neonatal and infant research, all are welcome to attend.

📍 The Hub, UCC (T12YF78)
🕚 11am–1pm
☕ Light refreshments provided

13/05/2026

👨‍💻 Nine PhD scholars and one postdoctoral researcher recently came together in Kigali for a five-day intensive training in systematic reviews and meta-analysis as part of the LINDA-FAMILIA project, led by Infant Research Centre at University College Cork.

Focused on strengthening maternal and child healthcare across East Africa through digital health and data-driven research, LINDA-FAMILIA brings together partners across Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

From hands-on learning to seeing healthcare in action, the week focused on one shared goal: building stronger evidence to improve care for mothers and babies.

It was great to see collaboration in action across the LINDA-FAMILIA network, with researchers already applying these skills to ongoing work, including studies exploring how SMS reminders can support maternal healthcare.

A big thank you to all partners and participants who made the week such a success 👏

👉 Read more about training week here: https://tinyurl.com/Linda-Familia-Blog

12/05/2026

This International Nurses Day, we are celebrating the incredible nurses across INFANT Research Centre, Cork University Maternity Hospital, and Cork University Hospital who care for mothers, babies, and families every day 💙

From maternity and neonatal care to research and innovation, nurses play such an important role in supporting families through every stage of the journey.

Thank you to all our nursing colleagues for the compassion, care, and dedication you bring every day 🫶

11/05/2026

We were proud to welcome Saoirse Maloney, the first nursing student to complete a placement at INFANT Research Centre, and we look forward to welcoming many more students in the future. 👏🏼

During her placement, Saoirse gained valuable insight into the role of research in neonatal and infant care, while learning more about developmental assessments, research processes, and ethics in clinical studies.

Reflecting on her experience, Saoirse said:

“My placement at INFANT gave me a real insight into the world of research and how it can make a difference for babies and families. I had the opportunity to observe assessments as part of the AIM HIGH study, learn about developmental milestones and research ethics, and complete my GCP certification. Working alongside Dr. Mary Anne Ryan gave me so many valuable learning opportunities, and it was amazing to see the work being done to improve neonatal and infant care.” 💙

05/05/2026

Science 🤝 Beer

Looking for a midweek plan? We’ve got you 🍻

Join Iyshwarya Stapleton and Anna Tuiskula from the INFANT Research Centre at Pint of Science Ireland 2026 for an evening of fascinating, real-world science.

From how we study the newborn brain 🧠 to what happens to the heart when a baby takes their very first breath ❤️, these talks explore the earliest moments of life and how research is helping us understand them better.

📍 Mr Bradley's Pub, Cork
📅 Wed 20 May
🕡 6:30pm doors | 7–9pm

🎟️ Register now: https://tinyurl.com/PintCork

27/04/2026

Congratulations to Professor Brian Walsh and the team at INFANT Research Centre and Cork University Maternity Hospital on receiving an award for best follow up rates in the international CoolPrime study. 👏

Presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting 2026 in Boston, this recongition reflects the dedication of clinical and research teams, along with the families who make this work possible.

CoolPrime is an international study focused on improving outcomes for newborns with mild hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Address

Cork University Hospital
Cork

Telephone

353(0)21 4205023

Website

http://www.infantcentre.ie/

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