Cork-based start-up CergenX is using recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) for the early detection of abnormal brain activity in babies at birth.
The company, established last year, aims to improve brain health monitoring in newborns by developing algorithms for screening all babies at birth for abnormal brain activity, enabling medical professionals to intervene and improve medical outcomes.
CergenX says at least five in every 1,000 newborns may have some degree of brain injury, but many of which go undetected until they are much older, after parents notice development problems, which can have lifelong consequences
At present, electroencephalography (EEG) is most commonly used to assess brain function in babies, measuring the tiny electrical impulses of the brain, but EEGs are complex to read, time consuming, and there is often a shortage of train specialists available, meaning it is not possible to test all newborns.
Geraldine Boylan, CEO of CergenX, said early detection of abnormal brain activity is critical as the majority of brain development takes place within the first few years of life.
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"Early detection is essential for improving the outcome for the child and indeed their family. There are a growing range of treatments and interventions available for newborn brain injury, but we need to know which babies are at highest risk as soon as possible," she added.
CergenX has a large brainwave databank for training brain screening AI algorithms, which will be embedded in medical devices.
Jason Mowles, CEO of CergenX, commented: “We are in discussions with medical device manufacturers who are interested in incorporating our software solutions into their devices.
"This is the start of a revolution in the use of AI for newborn brain healthcare, and CergenX intends to be at the forefront of this.”
He continued: “This is incredibly exciting and rewarding work and we have a real opportunity to make a major difference in a vital area of newborn healthcare.”
Donnchadh Cullinan, head of ICT high potential start-ups at Enterprise Ireland, said, “CergenX has the potential to transform infant healthcare, and to have a real impact on the lives of infants and families around the world.
"The leadership team at CergenX are an excellent example of Ireland’s rich collaborative ecosystem at work, and Enterprise Ireland is proud to support and back the next generation of Irish businesses who are creating innovative solutions to complex and challenging issues every day.”
CergenX is spun out from the INFANT Research Centre at University College Cork (UCC), the newborn brain research facility founded by Boylan in 2013, and the company has assembled a team with expertise in the newborn brain, AI, commercialisation, software development, finance, funding and regulatory issues.
Dr Sally Cudmore, UCC’s director of innovation, congratulated the CergenX team, saying: “This new UCC spin-out company is a strong example of the potential of clinical research to directly improve neonatal health care.
"CergenX will convert many years of excellent UCC research into technologies for direct clinical use to improve patient outcomes for infants.”
Photo: Sean Griffin, CTO; Geraldine-Boylan, CSO, and Jason Mowles, CEO of CergenX.
