CO20: Perinatal brain injury

El grupo “Daño cerebral perinatal” es un grupo multidisciplinar en el que se integran neonatólogos, neurofisiólogos, radiólogos y psicólogos pertenecientes al Servicio Andaluz de Salud y con actividad clínico-asistencial.

Our group's main interest is the study of the neurobiological basis of neurodevelopmental disorders observed in newborns at high risk of suffering from them. We focus on two subpopulations of newborns who are more neurologically vulnerable: full-term newborns exposed to perinatal asphyxia who develop hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, and preterm newborns. We use various advanced neuroimaging techniques, primarily ultrasound (3D brain ultrasound, power Doppler, etc.) and magnetic resonance imaging (DWI, DTI), to study the development of different brain structures. We study the association between various biochemical and clinical factors and socioeconomic status and neurodevelopment.

We investigate the efficacy of different neuroprotective measures in these two populations: in asphyxiated newborns, we designed and participated in clinical trials on the efficacy of different drugs (topiramate, allopurinol), associated with the use of therapeutic hypothermia, on neurodevelopment; and in premature newborns, after developing an experimental model of cerebral hemorrhage in collaboration with a basic research group at the University of Cádiz, we are currently studying the effect that different drugs (EPO, caffeine, etc.) have on brain injury and long-term neurological sequelae.

Responsible researcher

Isabel Benavente Fernández:
- E-mail: isabel.benavente@uca.es
- ORCID: 0000-0001-9276-1912

Co-principal investigator

Simón Lubián López:
- E-mail: simon.lubian@uca.es
- ORCID: 0000-0002-2937-778X

Lines of research

Line 1: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in full-term newborns. Development of a predictive model based on neuroimaging, clinical findings, and biochemistry.
Line 2: Neuroimaging in preterm newborns. Linear measurements using 3D ultrasound in preterm newborns. Relationship with prognosis. Comparison with measurements taken by MRI. Comparison with fetal averages.
Line 3: Biomarkers in intraventricular hemorrhage and posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in premature infants.
Line 4: Effect on the central nervous system of perinatal infection by cytomegalovirus and Ureaplasma urealyticum.
Line 5: Experimental murine model of intraventricular hemorrhage. Neuroprotective drugs.

Keywords

# Neuroimaging
# Biomarkers
# Neurological prognosis
# Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
# Prematurity

CO20: Perinatal brain injury

Responsible researcher

Isabel Benavente Fernández:

University Professor. Pediatrician/Neonatologist. Puerta del Mar Hospital, Cádiz.

E-mail: isabel.benavente@uca.es
ORCID: 0000-0001-9276-1912
Research ID: G-7846-2011
Scopus ID: 23033103000

Co-principal investigator

Simón Lubián López:

Associate Professor, University of Cádiz.

E-mail: simon.lubian@uca.es
ORCID: 0000-0002-2937-778X

Team Members

Principal Investigators:
- Isabel Benavente Fernández (PI).
- Simón Lubián López Co-IR).
Researchers:
- Almudena Alonso Ojembarrena.
- Look at Mirem Amaya Zuazo Ojeda.
- Antonio Segado Arenas.
- Pamela Zafra Rodriguez.
- Paula Méndez Abad.
- Cristina Gómez Barragán.
- Carmen Rodríguez Barrios.
- Estefanía Ruiz González.
- Irene Gutiérrez Rosa.
- Manuel Lubián Gutiérrez.
- Noelia María Sánchez Gómez.
- Natalia Jiménez Luque.
- Guillermo Ramos Noguera.