Infant Research Centre

11/03/2026

Did you know that many newborn seizures have no visible symptoms?

As part of UCC Innovation Week, we're highlighting companies emerging from the INFANT Research Centre at UCC that are translating research into technologies designed to improve children's health.

One of these spinouts is NeuroBell.

NeuroBell is developing a portable EEG monitoring device designed to help clinicians detect neonatal seizures earlier at the NICU bedside. Seizures are often the first sign of brain injury in newborns, but many have no visible symptoms.

By enabling earlier identification, NeuroBell aims to help clinicians respond more quickly and improve outcomes for newborns.

The technology was developed by researchers at the INFANT and is now moving toward clinical deployment.

The work behind NeuroBell shows how research in neonatal brain monitoring can translate into technologies that support earlier detection and care for vulnerable newborns.

10/03/2026

Why are many learning difficulties only identified when children start school?

As part of UCC Innovation Week, we’re highlighting innovations emerging from the research community that aim to address challenges in early childhood development.

One example is Liltoda, founded by INFANT Principal Investigator Professor Deirdre Murray, and Mike Cunneen.

Liltoda is developing tablet-based technology designed to help identify potential learning difficulties earlier in life. Through simple touchscreen, game-based tasks, the platform helps clinicians better understand how young children learn and solve problems.

The system can generate automated reports that support earlier insight while also saving valuable time for therapists.

With clinical validation involving over 1,000 children across 12 countries, Liltoda shows how research in child development can translate into practical tools that support clinicians, families and children.

👉 Read more in the Business Post article below

Making it Work Cork medtech aims to boost early diagnosis of childhood learning difficulties Emmet Ryan March 7, 2026 Prof Deirdre Murray, director, Liltoda: ‘There’s a big gap at the moment where the majority of learning difficulties in children aren’t picked up until they get to school. We.....

16/02/2026

🤝 We’re very excited to welcome the Rotunda Hospital as the newest site participating in our AIM-HIGH Study.

Their involvement expands access to innovative research for babies born preterm or at risk of early brain injury. We will be working with their families in our commitment to improving outcomes. We look forward to working alongside the outstanding clinical team in the Rotunda Hospital to drive meaningful impact.

Well done to all those involved in getting this site up and running 👏 . Special thanks to Dr Breda Hayes and her team who will lead the study there.

➡️ AIM-HIGH is a study focused on assessing intellectual and motor outcomes in high-risk infants as part of the ELEVATE programme. ELEVATE is a research programme, led by INFANT that aims to improve the prevention, detection and treatment of early brain injury and cerebral palsy(CP) in Ireland. Funded by Research Ireland and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.

15/02/2026

Please Share 💜Children volunteers needed for a research study💜

INFANT, UCC researchers are looking for children aged 5-11 years who have no known developmental issues, were born after 36 weeks and weren't admitted to the neonatal unit within 12 hours of birth to participate in a study.

The SOPHIE Study aims to gather information on how children with birth difficulties develop compared to children who didn’t have issues around birth. This will help identify issues earlier and improve long-term outcome in children diagnosed with HIE in the newborn period.

By participating in this study, you are contributing to important research on childhood development and newborn brain injury.🧠

📲 If your child or someone you know would like to take part in the study, email: sophie@ucc.ie or express interest here: https://www.infantcentre.ie/2026/02/05/children-needed-for-new-research-study-the-sophie-study/ (Please note the study visits take place in Cork University Hospital)

12/02/2026

And that’s a wrap for the 17th International Newborn Brain Conference! 🧠

Our colleagues were actively involved throughout the conference over the past few days, not only contributing across the programme but also connecting with peers from across the globe to share knowledge, ideas and build new collaborations.

The conference not only facilitates the exchange of research but also nurtures a multidisciplinary community and empowers and equips delegates with the tools and insights necessary to champion the cause of neonatal brain health, contribute to improved care and better outcomes worldwide.

👏 Well done to the Newborn Brain Society, the organising committee for delivering such an impactful event and congratulations to our own team members who were busy presenting posters, hosting workshops, and chairing panel discussions.

Already looking forward to 2027!

21/12/2025

🎄 The team at INFANT Research Centre at UCC would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

As we move into a new year, 2026, we reflect back on the incredible journey in 2025 and would like to extend our gratitude to our all of our team members, funding agencies, donors and industry partners for their ongoing support and a special note of sincere thanks to all the families who generously support the work we do, we will continue to work tirelessly to deliver better outcomes for mothers and babies.

Thank you 💜

18/12/2025

*INFANT Study Day - The Highlights*

We were delighted to welcome over 100 guests to this years INFANT Study Day in UCC’s Aula Maxima. The day brought together our multidisciplinary team, colleagues from across UCC, members of our Strategic Advisory Board to connect, learn and share.

The event showcased the variety of INFANT's research at all stages, highlighting what lies ahead, and providing insight into the vision for UCC Futures Children.

Thank you to our incredible lineup of speakers and to our students who presented posters. 👏

The Study Day is all about recognising and thanking the incredible team whose collaboration and commitment continues to drive innovation in maternal and child health research at UCC 💜

Interested in learning more? Read all about the day in the article below ⬇️

The INFANT Research Centre at UCC welcomed over 100 guests to its annual INFANT Study Day, which was held in the Aula Maxima on UCC’s campus - now home to portraits of 11 trailblazing women from, or with links to, the Munster region. The Study Day welcomed members of the INFANT multidisciplinary t...

17/12/2025

"New University College Cork Research Links Iron Deficiency in Mothers During Early Pregnancy to Lower Language and Motor Skills at Age Two" - Highlighted in The Irish Times.

Led by Dr Elaine McCarthy, INFANT Lead Investigator and Lecturer in Nutrition at UCC’s School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, this new study sheds light on how early in pregnancy iron deficiency matters for a baby’s brain development and reinforces the importance of greater awareness, early screening and supporting women throughout pregnancy.

Key findings include:
▪️ Over 40% of women in the study had low iron stores by mid-pregnancy, despite being a generally healthy, low-risk group.
▪️ Babies born to mothers who were iron deficient early in pregnancy had lower iron stores at birth, indicating that maternal iron levels directly influence a baby’s iron status.
▪️ Children were assessed at two years of age, using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, a gold-standard, internationally recognised measure of child neurodevelopment.

👶 The study included 189 mother-child pairs from the IMPROvED and COMBINE cohort studies at the INFANT Research Centre, UCC.

📰 Read more in The Irish Times:
https://www.irishtimes.com/health/2025/12/16/call-for-routine-testing-for-iron-deficiency-during-pregnancy-as-new-research-flags-risks/
📄 Read the research paper (The Journal of Nutrition):
https://lnkd.in/gtqxrcgb

Four in five pregnant women in Ireland are iron deficient by the third trimester

16/12/2025

📢 Publication Alert!

📰 “You just forget about preeclampsia and move on” – awareness of chronic disease risks and follow-up preferences after preeclampsia in Ireland: a national qualitative study. - PLOS One

This paper:
🔺Showed that women affected by preeclampsia in Ireland have limited awareness of its links with long-term health outcomes, including chronic disease risks

🔺Demonstrated that most women have not received structured follow-up care after preeclampsia, and they would like to be offered this by default

🔺Showed that women would prefer a future model of care which is person-centred, pragmatic, and underpinned by seamless communication between maternity hospitals and primary care

⏭️ Why is this important?
🔺 Preeclampsia is a very common pregnancy complication and it has been linked with increased risk of heart disease and kidney disease in later life

🔺 By providing structured follow-up care to affected women, there are opportunities to prevent a range of chronic diseases in the long-term

🔺 Follow-up pathways should be informed and shaped by patient preferences in order to maximise uptake and optimise prevention efforts

👏 Well done to the research team; Peter Barrett, Aisling Jennings, Heike Roth, Molly Byrne, Emma Wallace, Amanda Henry, Fergus McCarthy, Karolina Kublickiene, Ali S. Khashan.

➡️ Thank you to the funders

This research was supported by the Health Research Board (HRB) Research Board Clinician Scientist Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme in Ireland (HRB | Health Research Board; grant number CSF-2023-006).

The paper is available at this link: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0337875

11/11/2025

📣 We are VERY excited to be participating in Research Ireland's Science Week - which takes place this week from 9th - 15th November.

Science Week 2025 marks thirty years of harnessing the power of curiosity and collaboration to advance science in Ireland with the theme: "Then. Today. Tomorrow". In alignment with the theme, UCC is hosting a vibrant programme of events designed to engage the public and showcase the university’s commitment to science, sustainability, and community outreach.

➡️ The INFANT team will be showcasing at the "Science at the Marina Market" event taking place this SATURDAY 15th November from 10.00-16.00 in the Marina Market, organised by Teagasc. Tickets available: https://lnkd.in/eCKZrRfr

🔬 👩‍🔬 👨‍🔬 We'll have lots of fun, interactive activities for all ages, explore how our researchers use AI and gaming technology to study baby brains, predict health risks, try an animal-guessing AI challenge and listen to the sound of a baby's brain waves! We'll also be hosting a Bloody Detectives workshop. 🩸

🔗For more info on the event, visit: https://teagasctest.my.canva.site/science-at-the-marina/ -workshops
🔗 UCC's programme of events can be found here: https://www.ucc.ie/en/sefs/science-week/

03/11/2025

🎓 A special occasion on campus on Friday!

Three INFANT PhD students, Dr Soraia Ventura, Dr Jacopo Proietti
and Dr Andrea Bowe graduated at the UCC Medicine and Health Autumn Conferrings.

Dr Jacopo Proietti was the first joint PhD with INFANT, UCC and the University of Verona.

Huge congratulations and best wishes to you all💜

20/10/2025

🎉Congratulations to our Clinical Research Fellow, Dr Danielle Clifford!

Danielle has been awarded the Conor Ward Essay Prize from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) for her essay, “Managing Complexity in Paediatrics: A Trainee’s Perspective on Chronic Illness in Childhood” this prize recognises the best original and thought-provoking paediatric narrative/essay.

She received the award at the RCPI Faculty of Paediatrics Autumn Conference.

👏 A fantastic achievement, well done Dr Clifford