FNNDSC Weekly Newsletter - Week 36
Updated: Feb 8, 2021
Upcoming Events
February 3rd 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: FNNDSC Lecture Series with Tai-Wei Wu, MD
February 15th: Abstracts Acceptance Begins - Folkman Research Day
Various Dates: Newborn Brain Society Fetal Neurology Webinar Series
Helpful Links
Last Week's FNNDSC Project Updates
NIRS Team
The NIRS team has had the opportunity to perform multiple rounds of continuous monitoring in the NICU with one of our newly enrolled subjects. They were also able to perform their first NIRS/TCD visit for the SCD study, which was so exciting!
FNNDSC Lectures Series with Tai-Wei Wu, MD
Date/Time: Wednesday, February 3rd at 10:00 AM
Presenter: Tai-Wei Wu, MD
Title: The effects of therapeutic hypothermia on organ blood flow and cerebral metabolites in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury
Abstract:
Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the standard-of-care neuroprotective strategy for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Although it provides modest improvement in mortality and neurodevelopmental outcome, up to 40% of infants who undergoing TH may still die or survive with significant neurological impairment. Our overarching goal is to further optimize TH by modifying the standard method of cooling or rewarming. We studied hemodynamic changes during TH and rewarming through comprehensive bedside monitoring by way of ultrasound doppler, echocardiography, impedance cardiometry, and near-infrared spectroscopy. Secondarily, we investigated the relationship between brain temperature and cerebral metabolites by MR spectroscopy, to further understand the neuroprotective mechanism underlying TH.
Biography:
Dr. Wu’s research interest is in the area of neonatal brain injury and hemodynamics. He studies complex hemodynamic changes in newborns undergoing therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) by comprehensive bedside monitoring. His understanding of cerebral blood flow and metabolism coupling is further enhanced by magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy, which measures cerebral metabolites and temperature non-invasively. Uniquely, he has developed a transport protocol to safely conduct MR studies during therapeutic hypothermia by active cooling. MR spectroscopy is obtained both during and after therapeutic hypothermia, allowing for comparison of cerebral metabolic changes in relation to core temperature modulation. His ultimate goal is to identify modifiable factors in the neonatal intensive care setting that will improve neurological outcomes of infants with brain injury. He is currently the site principal investigator of a NIH funded multi-center trial for the use of erythropoietin in newborn asphyxia and the director of neonatal neuroprotection at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Newborn and Infant Critical Care Unit.
Zoom meeting information:
Join from your computer or mobile device: https://bostonchildrens.zoom.us/j/98693875440?pwd=bVRDakVoTnZqbEdveHhKT09wSjI4Zz09
Password: 931225
Or dial in from your telephone:
Internally: x28882
Externally: 646-558-8656 (Primary)
408-638-0968 (If you are unable to dial into the primary number)
Telephone password: 931225
Or iPhone one-tap:
+16465588656,,98693875440# or +14086380968,,98693875440#
EWS link: https://zoom.us/wc/98693875440/join
Meeting ID: 986 9387 5440
On-site Administrative Support This Week
Gauravi will be onsite this week on Tuesday, February 2nd (depending on snow).
Welcome FNNDSC's newest Quarantine Pet!
Meet Eleonora Tamilia's precious 5 month old kitten. Her name is Frida, and she enjoys spending her time sprawling all over Eleonora's research!
The Patriots aren’t in the Super Bowl this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun. Football Friday is back with a very special Super Bowl edition, and all staff are encouraged to join in, whether you are onsite or remote.
Ways to participate on Friday, February 5:
Food Services will offer sports fan favorites in the Fresh Food Court. You can purchase BBQ from Kansas City, favorites from Tampa, and a few other options to choose from.
At 12:30 p.m., take a break from work to join us for Boston Children’s first-ever virtual sports show: Flag on the Field. Join Dick Argys, Chief Culture Officer, and Henry Tomasuolo, Vice President of Support Services, as they chat about the Super Bowl, all things sports, and much more.
Represent your favorite sports team with pride! Wear your favorite team jersey, shirt, hat or even just the colors - at home or work area onsite.
And don’t forget to share your sports spirit with by posting your own photos on Scope 360’s “Culture Works” channel, or by emailing cultureworks@childrens.harvard.edu.