CEREBRATE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Congenital anomalies potentially requiring surgery; Evaluation of Real-time 3D-fractional moving Blood volume perfusion Analysis in the fetal brain: a feasibiliTy study.
IRAS ID
344251
Contact name
Kelly-Ann Eastwood
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 3 months, 30 days
Research summary
Globally, congenital problems (problems that we are born with) affect over 2% of births, with congenital heart disease being (CHD) the most common. We call these problems anomalies. CHD represents approximately one third of all congenital anomalies. At present, just over 50% of cases of CHD are detected before the baby is born. This is most often during the routinely offered fetal anomaly scan; 18 and 21 weeks of pregnancy. Severe CHD, requiring surgery or intervention in the first year of life, accounts for approximately one-third of cases.
There is some research to suggest that fetuses and newborns with CHD have a different brain structure in comparison to those without CHD. For example, impaired brain development and lower brain blood flow. It is not known if changes in the fetal brain during pregnancy or in early life affect longer term outcomes for these children. It is also unknown what the impact of other congenital anomalies might be on the fetal brain.
Ultrasound is a non-invasive, safe and commonly used technique of assessing fetal well-being in pregnancy. Using a technique called 3D-FMBV (3 Dimensional-Fractional Moving Blood Volume); currently used to assess blood flow through the placenta, we hope to study differences in the brains of fetuses with and without congenital problems. We will recruit women participating in the Surgical-PEARL study (a study currently exploring causes, management and outcomes for patients with congenital anomalies) and low risk women booked to deliver their baby in St Michael’s Hospital, Bristol for some additional scans during pregnancy.
Improving methods to evaluate the fetal brain provides a unique opportunity to better understand the impact of congenital anomaly on brain development. This information could provide early and more comprehensive information for families during pregnancy, and may help improve care for children with congenital anomaly.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/WM/0196
Date of REC Opinion
23 Oct 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion