Oxygen deprivation during childbirth, also known as perinatal asphyxia, is a critical condition that can lead to severe brain damage in newborns. Mette Vestergård Pedersen is committed to understanding and improving diagnosis and treatment of the condition. Using epidemiological analysis methods on data from Danish registries and patient information from Danish hospitals, she will identify children who are at risk of developing neurological disorders later in life.

A central element of Mette Vestergård Pedersen's research project is assessing the effect of cooling technology and the possibility of expanding its use. Cooling technology lowers the newborn's body temperature to 34 degrees for 72 hours to minimise the risk of permanent brain damage.

"It’s crucial for the child, their family and society that a quick distinction can be made between children who will recover completely and children who will develop issues later in life. Some children will need highly specialised care, and the sooner we can help them, the better they will be in the long run,” says Mette Vestergård Pedersen.

Every year, the Ministry of Higher Education and Science awards up to 20 travel scholarships to some of Denmark’s most talented PhD students. The scholarship will make it possible for Mette Vestergård Pedersen to continue her research in collaboration with international experts at the University of Bergen in Norway.

Contact

PhD Student Mette Vestergård Pedersen
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine and
Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Mobile: (+45) 51 27 84 92
Email: mvp@clin.au.dk

Based on press material from the Ministry of Higher Education and Science.