The goal of my research programme is to repurpose and test in the clinic a variety of neuroprotective treatments that have reached sufficient proof of efficacy in animal and experimental models of neonatal brain injury.

Prematurity accounts for 11% of all births, and is the leading global cause of death and disability under 5 years of age. All forms of cerebral palsy are seen in preterm children. Over 30% of survivors following preterm birth experience neurocognitive and socio-emotional problems from early life lasting into adulthood. Psychiatric disorders are present in around 25% of preterm adolescents. Prematurity leads to the loss of 75 million disability adjusted life years per annum worldwide.  

In the term infant, brain injury is most commonly due to hypoxia-ischaemia during labour. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) occurs in 1.5 to 2.5 per 1000 live births in high income countries. However, 99% of the disease burden is in low and middle income countries. There is an urgent need to develop treatment strategies which supplement the protective effect of therapeutic hypothermia in high income countries and is independently safe, effective and acceptable in low and middle income countries.  

I am the Chief Investigator of a phase1, randomised placebo controlled, single ascending dose trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol in conjunction with hypothermia in neonates with moderate or severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy with commercial sponsorship. 

I have developed a new liquid preparation of a licensed drug after extensive formulation studies in collaboration with industry and pharmaceutical manufacturing units. This work is being funded by MRC Impact Accelaration Award. Pre-clinical studies of this treatment strategy have already shown promising results. Early phase clinical trials are being planned.

In a sustained translational research programme, other neuroprotective agents are being developed for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy with external collaborators. This work is being funded by MRC DPFS. 

The bulk of the world's neonatal mortality and morbidity exists in low and middle income countries with limited access to neonatal intensive care facilities. A key objective of my research programme, is to ensure that treatment strategies being developed can also be implemented world-wide. 

I have considerable experience in conducting randomised trials in newborn babies. I have been the Chief Investigator of a multi-centre randomised trial of non-invasive ventilation in prematurity. I have also been in the trial management group of clinical trials on thyroxine supplementation and skin-care in newborn babies.