Infant Research Centre

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

28/10/2026

🧠 Why does early diagnosis of cerebral palsy matter?

The first months of life are a critical time for brain development. Identifying cerebral palsy earlier can help children access targeted therapies and give families answers and support sooner.

🎥 Professor Brian Walsh, Consultant Neonatologist and Principal Investigator at INFANT Research Centre, explains why early detection is so important.

💚 Our October cerebral palsy research fundraising campaign is still underway.

All donations made to INFANT Research Centre during October will support cerebral palsy research, helping us find better ways to identify CP earlier, support children sooner and improve care for families.

If you're able to make a donation, we'd be very grateful for your support.

And if donating isn't possible right now, please consider sharing this video or our campaign with your networks. Every share helps us reach more people and raise awareness of this important research.

🔗 Support our research: https://www.ucc.ie/en/advancement/makeagift/infant/

21/10/2026

🩺 Helping GPs recognise the early signs of cerebral palsy

Around half of babies who develop cerebral palsy have no obvious risk factors at birth. This means early signs may first be noticed by parents or GPs in the months that follow.

👶 Researchers and clinicians at INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork (UCC), through the Irish Cerebral Palsy Programme, have launched CP PROMPT – a new resource and referral pathway designed to help GPs recognise possible early signs of cerebral palsy and connect babies with specialist assessment and support sooner.

The illustrated guide highlights important developmental warning signs, including early hand preference and differences in movement between the two sides of the body.

Importantly, the pathway aims to help babies access specialist assessment and appropriate support earlier, while diagnostic investigations continue.

📍 CP PROMPT is being introduced initially in the South West, including Cork, with plans to expand across Ireland by the end of 2027.

💚 Earlier recognition means more opportunities for timely assessment, intervention and support for babies and their families.

19/10/2026

👀 What can a toddler’s eye movements tell us about their development?

New research from Infant Research Centre at University College Cork suggests that eye-tracking technology could offer a simple, non-invasive way to better understand early childhood development.

Led by INFANT PhD researcher Sonia Lenehan, the study examined 53 children at 18 months of age, comparing their eye movements with established developmental assessments.

The researchers found that certain eye-tracking measures, particularly how long children focused on different parts of a person's face, were associated with early language, communication, social-emotional skills and overall development.

Why does this matter?

Traditional developmental assessments can be time-consuming and require specialist training. Eye-tracking, by comparison, is quick, child-friendly and doesn't require children to follow verbal instructions.

While further research is needed, these findings highlight the potential for eye-tracking to complement existing assessments, helping researchers and clinicians better understand children's development from an early age.

👏 Congratulations to Sonia and the research team on this publication in Pediatric Research.

🔗 Read the research: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-026-05421-6

15/10/2026

What does it mean to make research truly inclusive for children and families? 💚

When we welcomed families to Roar for Research at INFANT earlier this year, we wanted every child to have the opportunity to take part, explore and enjoy the day in a way that worked for them.

For Edel Davin-Power and her family, that thought and preparation made a real difference.

“Everything from start to finish was so inviting, intriguing and inspiring. What a fun filled day we had!!”

From accessible activities to creating a welcoming environment for children with different needs and abilities, Roar for Research was designed to bring families and researchers together – and make research something children could experience, not simply hear about.

Feedback from families like Edel’s are a reminder that meaningful engagement starts with listening to families and thinking about inclusion from the beginning.

That same principle runs through our cerebral palsy research: working alongside children and families to better understand their experiences and what matters to them.

💚 This October, help us continue cerebral palsy research that puts children and families at its heart.

Support our research: https://www.ucc.ie/en/advancement/makeagift/infant/

12/10/2026

One year ago, researchers at UCC launched practical resources to help workplaces better support people experiencing pregnancy loss.

Since then, employers have begun using the research to inform their own policies and supports – while evidence from the same research is now helping to shape proposed national legislation on pregnancy loss leave.

Developed by the Pregnancy Loss Research Group (PLRG), based at INFANT Research Centre University College Cork, the workplace resources include practical guidance for employers and employees and a template pregnancy loss policy.

This , were looking at whats changed over the past year – and encouraging more workplaces to consider what they can do to support their people.

Read the story and explore the workplace resources: https://www.infantcentre.ie/2026/10/12/pregnancy-loss-workplace-toolkit/

08/10/2026

Maternal mental health matters, not only for mothers but also for their babies. 💙

New research from the INFANT Research Centre explored the link between maternal mental health and child development in infants born very preterm. The study looked at how maternal mental health relates to cognitive and language outcomes at two years of age in children born before 30 weeks' gestation.

The findings highlight the importance of routine maternal mental health screening and access to appropriate supports.

By identifying and addressing a mother’s mental health needs early, we can better support them; potentially helping to improve long-term outcomes for their babies as well.

🔗 Read the publication here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2026.1942213/full

06/10/2026

Tonight, University College Cork is lit up green for World Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. 💚

Across UCC and INFANT Research Centre, research is helping change how cerebral palsy is identified and treated in Ireland, with particular focus in earlier diagnosis and earlier intervention.

Through research and clinical collaboration, significant progress is already being made. Structured early screening introduced in major maternity hospitals has helped reduce the average age of cerebral palsy diagnosis for babies from around two years to approximately seven months.

Earlier identification can help children and families access appropriate interventions and support sooner, during an important period of a child’s development.

This World Cerebral Palsy Day, UCC and INFANT stand alongside people with cerebral palsy, their families, clinicians, researchers and communities – while continuing research aimed at improving pathways and outcomes for children and families across Ireland.

💚 Throughout October, donations to INFANT will support research into the early detection and intervention of cerebral palsy.

🔗 Support cerebral palsy research: https://www.ucc.ie/en/advancement/makeagift/infant/

05/10/2026

A new clinic is expanding access to specialist developmental follow-up for babies taking part in the AIM-HIGH Study 💚

The new AIM-HIGH research clinic at Enable Ireland in Kildare is making it easier for families to access developmental assessments during their baby’s early years.

Freya, born at just 29 weeks and 4 days, was the first baby to attend the clinic. Her mum, Lavita, says the specialist follow-up has helped her better understand Freya’s development and provided valuable reassurance along the way.

Led by Infant Research Centre at University College Cork, AIM-HIGH is helping researchers better understand the development of babies at increased risk of developmental difficulties and connect families with support earlier where needed.

Throughout October, donations to INFANT will support our research into the early detection and intervention of cerebral palsy. 💚

🔗 Read Freya's story & support our research: https://www.infantcentre.ie/2026/09/29/new-kildare-clinic/

01/10/2026

What can early intervention make possible for children with cerebral palsy? 💚

For 13-month-old Aidan, research became part of his journey.

Following an early cerebral palsy diagnosis, Aidan was closely monitored and supported through a range of therapies, while also taking part in APPLESTele, a six-week home-based programme focused on encouraging babies to use their weaker arm and hand.

His mum, Niamh, began noticing small but meaningful changes in his movement, play and everyday activities.

Aidan’s story highlights why research into early intervention matters and why we need to continue building the evidence to bring promising approaches to more children and families.

This October, your support can help make that happen.

💚 Donations to INFANT Research Centre throughout October will support cerebral palsy research, from earlier detection to early intervention.

🔗 Read Aidan's story and donate to our research: https://www.infantcentre.ie/2026/09/30/early-intervention-aidan-story/

28/09/2026

Congratulations to Professor Eugene Dempsey on his appointment to Head of the School of Medicine at UCC! 👏

A longstanding member of the INFANT Research Centre, Gene has dedicated his career to improving outcomes for newborn babies through both clinical care and research.

While taking on this exciting new leadership role, Gene will continue as a Principal Investigator at INFANT, helping to advance neonatal research and improve care for babies and their families.

We look forward to continuing to work alongside him in this next chapter.

🔗 Read more about Gene’s priorities for the role: https://www.infantcentre.ie/2026/09/24/new-head-of-school/

Address

Cork University Hospital
Cork

Telephone

353(0)21 4205023

Website

http://www.infantcentre.ie/

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