Brain development is highly complex, requiring precise regulation to ensure correct organization and functioning. Preclinical and clinical research have been integral in advancing our knowledge of brain development, as well as the consequences when normal development is disrupted, such as occurs following preterm birth. Every year, approximately 15 million babies are born preterm worldwide and the rates of preterm birth are increasing in many countries. Preterm birth is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, with survivors of preterm birth often facing a lifetime of disability, including motor impairments, learning and behavioural difficulties, and visual and hearing problems.
A number of factors, both antenatal and postnatal, have been identified that can contribute to preterm brain injury. These include infection (chorioamnionitis or sepsis), hypoxia-ischemia, mechanical ventilation and hemodynamic instability. Whilst mechanisms underlying injury to the preterm brain are complex, preclinical and clinical research have helped identify a number of key injurious processes of interest. These include inflammation, oxidative stress, cell death and impaired cell proliferation and differentiation.
There are currently very limited treatment options available to improve outcomes following preterm brain injury, and importantly none that specifically target neuroprotection or neuro-repair. Despite this, ongoing research using various preclinical models of brain injury, as well as clinical studies of preterm cohorts, continue to improve our understanding of the injurious processes associated with preterm birth. Moreover, new strategies and interventions that might protect the vulnerable preterm brain, or even promote brain repair following injury, are being discovered. These may include pharmacological and biological therapies as well as neuroplasticity-inducing interventions such as rehabilitation, environmental enrichment, as well as other innovative approaches.
In this Research Topic we invite manuscripts, both original studies and review articles, that present new findings or highlight novel ideas in the field of preterm brain injury, neuroinflammation and innovative approaches to protect and/or repair the injured preterm brain. Manuscripts based on both animal and human studies are invited. We particularly welcome articles focused on treating the various neurological impairments caused by preterm brain injury that include a discussion of the mechanistic rationale.
The Guest Editors of this Research Topic encourage all interested researchers to submit an abstract before submitting their manuscript. Abstracts do not have to coincide with the final abstract of the manuscripts. However, abstract submission is not mandatory.
Brain development is highly complex, requiring precise regulation to ensure correct organization and functioning. Preclinical and clinical research have been integral in advancing our knowledge of brain development, as well as the consequences when normal development is disrupted, such as occurs following preterm birth. Every year, approximately 15 million babies are born preterm worldwide and the rates of preterm birth are increasing in many countries. Preterm birth is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, with survivors of preterm birth often facing a lifetime of disability, including motor impairments, learning and behavioural difficulties, and visual and hearing problems.
A number of factors, both antenatal and postnatal, have been identified that can contribute to preterm brain injury. These include infection (chorioamnionitis or sepsis), hypoxia-ischemia, mechanical ventilation and hemodynamic instability. Whilst mechanisms underlying injury to the preterm brain are complex, preclinical and clinical research have helped identify a number of key injurious processes of interest. These include inflammation, oxidative stress, cell death and impaired cell proliferation and differentiation.
There are currently very limited treatment options available to improve outcomes following preterm brain injury, and importantly none that specifically target neuroprotection or neuro-repair. Despite this, ongoing research using various preclinical models of brain injury, as well as clinical studies of preterm cohorts, continue to improve our understanding of the injurious processes associated with preterm birth. Moreover, new strategies and interventions that might protect the vulnerable preterm brain, or even promote brain repair following injury, are being discovered. These may include pharmacological and biological therapies as well as neuroplasticity-inducing interventions such as rehabilitation, environmental enrichment, as well as other innovative approaches.
In this Research Topic we invite manuscripts, both original studies and review articles, that present new findings or highlight novel ideas in the field of preterm brain injury, neuroinflammation and innovative approaches to protect and/or repair the injured preterm brain. Manuscripts based on both animal and human studies are invited. We particularly welcome articles focused on treating the various neurological impairments caused by preterm brain injury that include a discussion of the mechanistic rationale.
The Guest Editors of this Research Topic encourage all interested researchers to submit an abstract before submitting their manuscript. Abstracts do not have to coincide with the final abstract of the manuscripts. However, abstract submission is not mandatory.
