This campaign has now closed
It is hoped that the research will lead to new tests that can help identify babies who may be at higher risk of developing a severe infection so that steps can be taken to help protect them in the critical, first few weeks of life.
Categories
Beneficiaries
Situation
Around 60,000 babies are born prematurely in the UK each year and tragically, more than 1,000 die as a result of being born too soon. Bacterial infections are especially dangerous for preterm babies and sadly can result in loss of life or serious lifelong disabilities.
Solution
Dr Deena Gibbons of King’s College London is aiming to improve our understanding of how the immune system of preterm babies reacts to bacterial infection. She hopes this knowledge will lead to new tests that can help doctors to prevent and treat infections more effectively in this vulnerable group of babies, helping save lives and reduce life-changing complications.
