About FIREFLY

Perinatal global hypoxic ischaemia associated with Neonatal Encephalopathy (NE) results in multi-organ dysfunction which may persist in later childhood. In addition perinatal inflammation has been associated with neonatal brain injury and implicated in adult neuropsychiatric conditions.

We have previously defined detailed multi organ dysfunction (MOD) in this cohort in the neonatal period in infants with NE including organ outcomes as well as serum, urine and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers. They are now age-appropriate for detailed neurocognitive assessment and correlation with these biomarkers and we plan to compare with age-matched controls.

Quantifying multiorgan dysfunction in the neonatal period to ensure appropriate follow-up of all organs is merited. This would help in advanced clinical planning and long term follow up. In addition, understanding the immune response in these children with NE and exploring systemic inflammation holds promise for future development of immunomodulatory adjunctive therapies and biomarkers to predict outcomes.

FIREFLY is funded by the HRB and its primary research objectives are as follows:

Aim 1: Followup evaluation of Multiorgan Dysfunction in Childhood following Neonatal Brain Injury and Correlation with Neurodevelopmental Outcome

Aim 2: Inflammatory Responses at Followup in Early Childhood following Neonatal Brain Injury and Correlation with Outcomes

Aim 3: Immunomodulation of Inflammatory Responses in Neonatal Brain Injury