CYRIL provides information on babies' brain function at the cotside

A research team at University College London called MetaboLight and led by Dr Ilias Tachtsidis has designed CYRIL, a compact broadband near-infrared spectroscopy system, to monitor brain tissue physiology non-invasively in newborn babies.

A portable system small enough for use in the NICU and A&E rooms, CYRIL is currently being used in preclinical studies looking for future neuroprotective therapies and in clinical studies in the neonatal unit in University College London Hospital.

During birth, disruptions in blood and oxygen supply to baby's brain can stop it from working properly. This can lead to an acute injury to the developing brain and could potentially lead to significant disability or death.

CYRIL offers a safe, non-invasive way of shining light through the brain tissue of a newborn baby and detecting its function with a sensitive digital camera. This reveals detailed information about oxygen and metabolism levels, providing vital and potentially life-saving information for doctors.