Research4Babies receives Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada Funding to Advance Newborn Resuscitation

24 hours ago

2 min read

I am pleased to share that our research program has received a 2026/27 Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada Grant-in-Aid for our project, “Optimization of initial vasopressor therapy during cardiopulmonary resuscitation of asphyxiated newborns at birth.”

The first minutes after birth are a critical period of transition. While most newborns make this transition successfully, some experience a severe lack of oxygen and require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). For these infants, restoring the heartbeat and blood flow quickly is essential. Despite advances in neonatal care, newborns who require CPR remain at substantial risk of death and brain injury.

Vasopressors are medications that help support blood flow to the heart and other vital organs during resuscitation. However, important questions remain about how to use these medications most effectively in newborns. Delivering treatment quickly can be challenging, and the evidence specific to newborn resuscitation remains limited. Newborn physiology also differs considerably from that of older children and adults, making dedicated research essential.

These challenges drive our search for alternative approaches that could provide faster, more reliable treatment when every second matters.

Over the next three years, our team at the Centre for the Studies of Asphyxia and Resuscitation (CSAR), University of Alberta, will investigate ways to optimize initial vasopressor therapy during newborn CPR. We will examine how these approaches affect the time needed to restore a spontaneous heartbeat, recovery of circulation, and markers of heart and brain injury. Our goal is to build evidence that can inform future clinical trials and ultimately improve survival and long-term outcomes.

We are grateful to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, its donors, and its research reviewers for supporting this work and our commitment to giving newborn infants the best possible start in life.