A brain specimen from Imperial's brain bank

Understanding perinatal brain injury and improving neurological outcomes of babies and children

Imperial College London has an international reputation for brain research spanning over several decades. Brain injury during early life is common and may lead to a lifelong disability, for example, cerebral palsy or epilepsy. The developing brain is extremely vulnerable to systemic illness, particularly infection and asphyxia, and is significantly influenced by a variety of socio-economic and ante-natal factors. Therefore, understanding perinatal brain injury and improving neurological outcomes of babies and children requires a multi-disciplinary and multifaceted approach.

The Neuroscience theme within the Centre for Paediatrics and Child Health seeks to bring together a group of pre-clinical and clinical researchers, alongside bioinformaticians, physicists, engineers and health policy researchers for understanding, preventing and treating brain injury.

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Key research areas


  • Neonatal encephalopathy
  • Magnetic resonance biomarkers
  • Neurogenomics and genomic imaging
  • Epigenetics and neuropathology
  • Neonatal seizures and epilepsy
  • Neonatal pain
  • Neonatal sepsis
  • Audiology and ear canal EEG
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning
  • Public health and health policy

Theme lead


Professor Sudhin Thayyil
Professor of Perinatal Neuroscience

Sudhin Thayyil is a Professor of Perinatal Neuroscience and the Director of the Centre for Perinatal Neuroscience. He was initially funded by an NIHR Clinician Scientist award, and subsequently by an NIHR Advanced Fellowship. He is an honorary consultant neonatologist and lead for neonatal research at the Imperial NHS Trust.

Further information on Professor Thayyil

Theme members

Professor Praveen Anand

Professor Praveen Anand

Professor Praveen Anand
Professor

Dr Kling Chong

Dr Kling Chong

Dr Kling Chong
Consultant Paediatric Neuroradiologist

Dr Ramyia Elangovan

Dr Ramyia Elangovan

Dr Ramyia Elangovan
Neonatal Clinical Research Fellow

Dr Reema Garegrat

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Dr Reema Garegrat

Professor Michael Gresty

Professor Michael Gresty

Professor Michael Gresty
Visiting Professor

Dr Wajanat Jan

Dr Wajanat Jan

Dr Wajanat Jan
Consultant Paediatric Neuroradiologist

Dr Carolina Kachramanoglou

Dr Carolina Kachramanoglou

Dr Carolina Kachramanoglou
Consultant Paediatric Neuroradiologist

Dr Aesha Mohammedi

Dr Aesha Mohammedi

Dr Aesha Mohammedi
Consultant neonatologist

Dr Alexi Nott

Dr Alexi Nott

Dr Alexi Nott
UK DRI Research Fellow

Professor Mala Rao

Professor Mala Rao

Professor Mala Rao
Senior Clinical Fellow in Public Health