Bobbi Fleiss

BOBBI FLEISS

Dr Bobbi Fleiss is a translational perinatal brain injury researcher. The objectives of her research is to increase understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of brain damage in the newborn and to develop strategies for neuroprotection. This research involve experimental studies in animals, and where possible, studies in humans, leading to the mutual enrichment of these two complementary approaches within a translational research framework.

Talk: The role of neuroinflammation in the encephalopathy of prematurity

The neuropathology of encephalopathy of prematurity consists of diffuse, noncystic white matter injury without focal necrosis and an often-associated neuronal/axonal damage. Neuroinflammation and the severity of prematurity are important risk factors for encephalopathy, and for cerebral palsy and other lasting neurological deficits. Neuroinflammation is mediated by cytokines derived from immune cells, microglia and astrocytes and these cause injury to neurons and oligodendrocytes. In addition to immediate effects, this inflammatory response affects brain development increasing the risk of neurologic diseases. The absence of adequate therapeutic approaches for encephalopathy of prematurity is due to our limited knowledge of the highly complex molecular targets that underlie the crosstalk between the neurologic and immune systems and dysregulated developmental processes. As such, one important step for improving morbidity is to increase in our knowledge of the pathogenesis of microglia-mediated injury in the immature brain, including within the white matter and subplate regions. In addition, the identification of biomarkers for neuroinflammatory processes and prognosis as well as new therapeutic targets are needed in an attempt reduce the burden of deficits linked to encephalopathy of prematurity including cerebral palsy.