The Centre for the Studies of Asphyxia and Resuscitation

Welcome to CSAR and Research4Babies

 

Welcome to CSAR — the Centre for the Studies of Asphyxia and Resuscitation, a neonatal research program based in Canada and recognized internationally for its work in newborn resuscitation and clinical trials.

 

CSAR was established in 2014 with the goal of improving outcomes for newborn infants. Our research focuses on understanding the respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, and metabolic changes that occur during the transition from fetal to neonatal life, and on developing evidence-based strategies to improve diagnosis, reduce risk, and enhance survival and long-term quality of life for newborns.

 

CSAR’s research program spans the full continuum from basic and simulation science to translational and clinical research, with a strong emphasis on improving both short- and long-term outcomes for preterm and critically ill newborn infants.

​

CSAR is also a training and innovation centre in neonatal resuscitation research and a recognized leader in research translation. Our work informs clinical practice, contributes to national and international guideline development, and shapes policy statements across global health communities.

​

Our multidisciplinary team brings together clinicians, scientists, trainees, and collaborators with expertise in asphyxia, resuscitation, and long-term follow-up, including outcomes related to chronic lung disease and neurodevelopment.

​

CSAR designs, leads, coordinates, and participates in a large number of randomized controlled trials, positioning the centre as a leading neonatal clinical trials program focused on improving care at birth and beyond.

​​

What does Research4Babies / CSAR do?

Research4Babies.org is the public-facing platform of the Centre for the Studies of Asphyxia and Resuscitation (CSAR) at the University of Alberta. CSAR conducts neonatal clinical trials focused on resuscitation, ventilation, oxygen strategies, cardiovascular support, and neuroprotection to improve outcomes for newborn infants.

​

​

Neonatal resuscitation training for health professionals (RETAIN)

Healthcare professionals working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are often required to respond rapidly to high-stress delivery room emergencies.

RETAIN is an innovative neonatal resuscitation training program designed to support learning, decision-making, and teamwork in these critical moments. RETAIN uses realistic, scenario-based training grounded in real-life deliveries, allowing learners to practice clinical decision-making, task execution, stress management, and team communication.

The program complements existing neonatal resuscitation education and is accessible on demand, enabling healthcare professionals to build and maintain skills anytime and anywhere.

RETAIN was developed by a multidisciplinary team including physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, educators, designers, and computer scientists, with the shared goal of improving access to high-quality neonatal resuscitation training worldwide.

​

What is RETAIN?

RETAIN is a simulation-based neonatal resuscitation training program developed by the Centre for the Studies of Asphyxia and Resuscitation (CSAR) to support clinical decision-making and team performance during newborn resuscitation. The program is commercially available to institutions and educators through RETAIN Labs Medical (https://retainlabsmedical.com).​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​