The ANSeR project
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A multicentre clinical evaulation of a decision support algorithm for neonatal seizure detection, phase 1
IRAS ID
132536
Contact name
Janet Rennie
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London Hospital, Joint Research Office
Research summary
Seizures or ‘fits’ are difficult to detect in newborn babies and can be a marker of brain injury which results in lifelong disability. Treating seizures early is more successful than treating them later, and there is evidence to show that controlling seizures can reduce brain damage. Seizures can’t be treated unless doctors have an accurate way of measuring them, because recognising them by just observing the baby is not reliable. The only way accurately to detect seizures is to monitor electrical brain patterns using wires attached to the scalp which pick up tiny electrical currents (EEG). EEG signals are very difficult to interpret in babies. We have developed an automated intelligent EEG (electroencephalogram)computer program which can detect seizures accurately and which works well in the laboratory. We are now at the exciting stage where we need to test the system in real life to make sure that everyone can use it and we can show that it definitely helps them. Our goal is to make the system available to all babies by making the software easy to use and reliable and ensuring that it passes international regulatory tests, meaning that manufacturers will want to include it in their monitors.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1223
Date of REC Opinion
17 Sep 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion