Long-term protection in the growth restricted newborn

Duration: 2021-2025

Funding: Cerebral Palsy Alliance

Chief Investigators: Wixey J, Colditz P, Bjorkman ST, Chand K, Patel J, Khosrotehrani K.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) occurs when a baby fails to grow normally due to receiving inadequate nutrients while developing in the womb. Brain damage in these babies leads to life-long disabilities and up to a 30-fold risk in developing cerebral palsy (CP). Currently there is no treatment available to protect the FGR newborn brain and therefore prevent or even reduce CP in these babies. While the development of strategies to reduce brain deficits in FGR newborns have been proposed as in need of urgent research for several years, very few trials have been undertaken. Assessing long-term outcomes and thorough safety profiling of any treatment is necessary prior to administering therapies to vulnerable newborns.

This project will assess the safety, efficacy, and long-term outcomes of two treatments to protect the FGR brain – placental stem cells and ibuprofen.