Impact of NEMO

The FP7 Cooperation Work Programme "Health" lists two essential impacts for the call:

1. Evidence for better use in paediatric populations.

2. To aim at eventual new Paediatric Use Marketing Authorisations (PUMAs).

In the following section of this proposal, we will show why NEMO has the potential to significantly contribute to these goals, and will also make additional contributions that are of international importance.

Reduction in childhood death is an important worldwide Millenium Development Goal; perinatal asphyxia is responsible for 23% of the 4 million neonatal deaths each year. Perinatal asphyxia is also an important cause of lifelong disability, including cerebral palsy and learning difficulties. Better seizure control has the potential to reduce both mortality and morbidity in this common and significant clinical problem. The lifetime economic and social costs of a disabled child are such that preventing even one case is worthwhile.

The NEMO study will use EEG monitoring for seizure diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Most previous studies have only used clinical assessment of neonatal seizures to guide treatment, and this has been shown to be inaccurate. This study will be the largest study of neonatal seizure treatment using EEG monitoring ever conducted. There is no doubt that continuous EEG monitoring is the only way to ensure the efficacy of neonatal seizure treatment.

The consortium assembled for this study are highly experienced in the diagnosis and management of neonatal seizures, and are thus ideally placed to undertake a study of this nature.