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HIHI launches latest Clinical Evaluation study with CergenX which provides new hope for early recognition of potential brain injury in newborns

| Posted on: 12 July, 2024

This July, HIHI is spotlighting our latest Clinical Evaluation Study with CergenX with their product CergenX Wave which provides new hope for early recognition of potential Brain Injury in Newborns.

At least 5 out of every 1,000 newborns in the developed world have some form of brain injury at  birth. Newborn brain injuries are frequently clinically invisible and can be undiagnosed at birth, resulting in lifelong consequences for not only the infant but also their families and society. In the USA, the lifetime care costs for an individual born with brain injury can be up to $3 million. Currently, EEG (electroencephalography) is the gold standard for detecting brain function issues. However, its widespread use is limited by several factors: it requires specialised expertise for analysis, results can take hours to days, it is costly, and scaling up its availability has proven challenging.

CergenX is a high-potential start-up supported by Enterprise Ireland and a spin-out from Infant Research Centre at University College Cork has developed a groundbreaking solution. The CergenX Wave is an innovative two-channel EEG device integrated with artificial intelligence (AI). This device allows for the early recognition of potential brain injury in all infants, facilitating timely intervention, leading to reduced infant morbidity, improved developmental outcomes, and decreased severity of brain injuries. The Role of HIHI  was crucial in assisting CergenX on their innovation journey.

HIHI facilitated the evaluation of the CergenX Wave by organising focus groups with neonatal healthcare professionals across multiple hospitals (Cork University Hospital, Galway University Hospital, Portiuncula Hospital in Galway, and St Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny).HIHI identified and recruited participants, coordinated sessions, and helped design the presentations and questions to gather insightful feedback.

HIHI also analysed the data and prepared a comprehensive report, aiding CergenX in refining their product to better meet clinical needs. This project underscored the importance of early detection tools in neonatal brain health and demonstrated the significant impact such innovations can have on improving outcomes for newborns and their families.

Jason Mowles, CergenX CEO commented on the valuable role of HIHI on their innovation journey: “Medical professionals have notoriously busy schedules, but HIHI has the network and relationships that allowed us to secure time with the people we needed to speak to. Their ability to engage relevant healthcare professionals to gather crucial insights has significantly contributed to refining CergenX Wave. We collaborated closely with Michael and Maria to maximise the value of every session. No ask was too great—they were a pleasure to work with.”

Read the full case study here : https://hih.ie/downloads/case-studies/HIHI-case-study_Cergenx.pdf