The ESPR Brain, Development and Imaging Section

Welcome to the Brain, Development and Imaging Section of the European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR)

The Brain, Development and Imaging Section consists of like minded individuals interested in the study of early brain injury and long term consequences. Their work looks at improving prediction, detection and prevention of injury to the developing brain and includes a strong focus on imaging and electrophysiology of the developing brain. we strive for better ways to prevent, predict, detect, and treat early brain injury.

• Our objectives

  The section aims to improve outcomes for all infants, children and the adults that they will become. We have a strong focus on the study of early brain injury, particularly injury to the preterm and term brain. We have expertise in early brain injury, neonatal neuroprotection, brain imaging techniques and outcome assessment. Our work spans from pre-clinical experimental work through observation studies, cohort studies and onwards to translate these findings into clinical trials and implementation of evidence based medicine to the care and protection of the developing brain.
• Meet the Section Council

  Pierre Gressens Child neurologist, Professor, MD, PhD Section Chair since 2025 NeuroDiderot Inserm-Université Paris Cité Robert Debre hospital Paris, France	Brian Walsh Associate Professor of Paediatrics, MB, BCh, PhD Section Council member since 2025 Dept of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, Ireland Principle Investigator, INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Ireland Consultant Neonatologist, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland	Olivier Baud Neonatologist, Professor, MD, PhD Section Council member since 2024 Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève Switzerland	Sylke J Steggerda Neonatologist, MD, PhD Section Council member since 2025 Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Willem Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
  Sandra Horsch Neonatologist, MD, PhD Section Council member since 2025 Helios Klinikum Berlin Buch Berlin, Germany	Atul Malhotra Neonatologist, MD, PhD Section Council member since 2025 Monash University Melbourne, Australia	Topun Austin Consultant Neonatologist, MD, PhD Section Council member since 2025 Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Affiliate Associate Professor, University of Cambridge Honorary Professor of Neurophotonics, University College London Senior Visiting Fellow, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore	Raymand Pang NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer, MD, PhD Young Section Council member since 2025 University College London Neonatal Subspecialty Registrar, London United Kingdom
• Current & future activities/projects
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy in Neonatology - State-of the-art series for Paediatric Research
  • Editorial on the definition of neonatal encephalopathy and hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy for Pediatric Research: opinion statement. In collaboration with the members of the Newborn Brain Society.
  • Online cerebral basic ultrasound course
  • Fostering crosstalk with Pulmonology, I4, Nutrition-Metabolism-Gastroenterology sections
  • Supporting SIG on Neonatal Stem Cell Research
  • Supporting ECRs
  • Fostering reciprocal interactions with the Neonatal Brain Society
• Upcoming meetings of the section

  The next section meeting will take place at the upcoming CEPAS congress in Lyon, France, in October 2026 (date & time tba).
• Publications

  List of publications in Pediatric Research by the EurUS.Brain Group:

  • Cranial ultrasound by neonatologists (To view the paper, click here)
  • State-of-the-art neonatal cerebral ultrasound: technique and reporting (To view the paper, click here)
  • Cranial ultrasound findings in preterm germinal matrix haemorrhage, sequelae and outcome (To view the paper, click here)
  • Ultrasound of acquired posterior fossa abnormalities in the newborn (To view the paper, click here)
  • Preterm white matter injury: ultrasound diagnosis and classification (To view the paper, click here)
  • Diagnostic and predictive value of Doppler ultrasound for evaluation of the brain circulation in preterm infants: a systematic review (To view the paper, click here)
  • The development and validation of a cerebral ultrasound scoring system for infants with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (To view the paper, click here)
  • Results of the SafeBoosC-III trial have now been published and can be accessed here. This was a randomized, phase 3 trial of cerebral oximetry monitoring conducted at 70 sites in 17 countries, extremely preterm infants (gestational age, <28 weeks), were assigned within 6 hours after birth, to receive treatment guided by cerebral oximetry monitoring for the first 72 hours after birth or to receive usual care. A video summary of the trial can also be found here.

   
• How to engage with us

  Please contact the ESPR Secretariat via office@espr.eu. We will be more than happy to forward your request to the members of the Brain, Development and Imaging Section.