Project 458937

Babies born early, or preterm, are at risk for lifelong disability and challenges affecting their motor, communication and thinking skills. Studies using MRI pictures of the brain have shown differences in brain development in preterm compared to term babies that are linked to the disabilities that preterm babies experience. As a complication of preterm birth, these babies may also have multiple types of brain injury that increases their risk for developmental disabilities. However, we currently do not understand why brain injury affects early brain development in some preterm babies and not others. Understanding this relationship could point to new treatments and interventions that reduce the risk of developmental disabilities in children born preterm. Researchers have also shown that the way we care for preterm babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is important for their brain development. For example, preterm babies will have many painful lifesaving procedures in the NICU. These painful procedures are linked to changes in brain development. However, the medications used to treat pain may also affect brain development, with each medication affecting a different part of the brain. This makes it challenging for us to understand how to treat pain in a way that is best for overall brain development. To study these issues, we will use brain MRI pictures in preterm babies to measure early brain development in each baby. We will use new MRI analysis techniques to understand how different types of brain injuries affect early brain development. We will also compare how different pain medications are linked to brain development to identify the medications that promote healthy brain development in preterm babies. Together, we hope that our findings will improve the way we prevent and treat pain in preterm babies and support their development.