Inaugural Lecture

The relationship between birth asphyxia and neonatal brain injury was first described more than 150 years ago and the complications it creates continue to be a leading cause of death and disability amongst infants born at full term. In fact, over 4 million babies are being affected each year worldwide. And yet prevention and treatment of this condition remains elusive. In the UK, obstetric litigation costs relating to birth asphyxia-related brain injuries extend into billions, although a cause-and-effect relation is far from clear.

In this inaugural lecture Professor Sudhin Thayyil discusses his journey as a clinical academic neonatologist in the UK, and how this work might help in preventing brain injury and in providing personalised neuroprotective therapies in future.