CSAR has been featured in the CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health newsletter

Helping to improve the lives of premature babies

Understanding their respiratory, neurological, and cardiovascular problems to reduce risks Dr. Georg Marcus Schmölzer, University of Alberta

Each year, 15 million premature babies born around the world and a significant proportion of them suffer lifelong chronic lung diseases or neurodevelopmental disabilities. This puts a heavy burden on health resources and their families, as these infants require frequent hospital re-admission. Refining how we care for babies born too soon will decrease long-term complications and improve the quality of life for these newborns and their families. In response to this need, in 2014, we established the Centre for the Studies of Asphyxia and Resuscitation (CSAR) as a world-leading program that is unique to Canada. Our research focus is to:1) understand basic respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological changes immediately after birth; and 2) improve diagnoses, mitigate risk, and improve survival and quality of life for premature babies.

Our research has changed the way premature babies receive breathing support at birth and in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and our approach has been adopted in delivery rooms around the world. CSAR is currently performing more than 10 randomized trials to improve survival, chronic lung disease, and neurodevelopmental disabilities. Read more