Research
We undertake mechanistic research, clinical trials, methodology development (MRI, EEG and analytical approaches), with a particular focus on infant pain.
Join us
If you are interested in learning more about the development of the human infant brain then get in touch. We have lots of opportunities for students and staff to join our research group.
Our resources
We are very proud of our public engagement work - here we highlight our research through videos, podcasts, information leaflets and other resources.
What's new
INC Meeting
21 December 2022
On 15 and 16 November 2023 members of our team attended the International Neonatal Consortium (INC) Scientific Meeting in Bethesda. The INC is an international collaboration that brings together nurses, doctors, scientists, parents, regulators, and industry partners to improve neonatal care. We enjoyed the interesting talks from colleagues and parents who are at the forefront of neonatal care across the world. In addition, we were able to share our plans to improve the assessment of pain in neonatal clinical trials with the wider community.
Paediatric Neurorunners for SSNAP take on Oxford Half Marathon
25 November 2022
Members of the Paediatric Neuroimaging Research Group at the University of Oxford (based at the Newborn Care Unit) decided to team up to support SSNAP (Support for Sick Newborns And their Parents). The team of four (Simon Marchant, Maz Aspbury, Luke Baxter and Marianne van der Vaart) signed up for the Oxford half marathon on 16th October 2022 to raise money for the charity through sponsorship. A couple of injuries meant that only two crossed the finish line, but they put in enough effort for the whole team!
The development of pain perception in early life
2 August 2022
In this interview, Ebony chats with Rebeccah Slater, a professor of Pediatric Neuroimaging in the Department of Pediatrics (Oxford University, UK), about her research on neonatal pain perception and her involvement in FENS 2022. Slater’s lab focuses on how pain perception develops in early life and how this research can better equip doctors to manage and treat pain in babies.
Early life infection increases sensitivity to pain in newborn babies
14 July 2022
Researchers from Oxford’s Department of Paediatrics have discovered that infection can increase a baby’s sensitivity to pain, which may last longer than the infection.
Latest publications
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Concurrent mapping of brain ontogeny and phylogeny within a common space: Standardized tractography and applications.
Journal article
Warrington S. et al, (2022), Sci Adv, 8
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Multicentre, randomised controlled trial to investigate the effects of parental touch on relieving acute procedural pain in neonates (Petal).
Journal article
Cobo MM. et al, (2022), BMJ Open, 12
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Early life inflammation is associated with spinal cord excitability and nociceptive sensitivity in human infants
Journal article
Cobo MM. et al, (2022), Nature Communications, 13
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Concurrent mapping of brain ontogeny and phylogeny within a common connectivity space
Preprint
Warrington S. et al, (2022)
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The impact of premature extrauterine exposure on infants’ stimulus-evoked brain activity across multiple sensory systems
Journal article
Schmidt Mellado G. et al, (2022), NeuroImage: Clinical, 33, 102914 - 102914