Perinatal Brain Injury

Perinatal brain injury is one of the main causes of cerebral palsy and is strongly associated with sensory, cognitive, and psychological disturbances in children. Studies from us and others have suggested roles for inflammation, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired oligodendrocyte maturation, other developmental immaturities due to preterm birth, and genetic factors in perinatal brain injury and cerebral palsy; however, we still do not fully understand the mechanisms behind injury development and progression, and there are still no effective preventions or treatments.

The goal of our research is to fundamentally advance our knowledge of the key factors that impact on brain development and injury processes in the perinatal period and to generate prevention/treatment modalities for perinatal brain injury and cerebral palsy.