New research into how noise affects babies will shape new generation of neonatal incubators
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A new project has been launched to develop an increased understanding of how sound affects babies in the womb, and create a new generation of incubators that accurately mimic the uterine sound environment for premature babies.
Healthy babies
Researchers will also help determine safe sound exposure levels for women during pregnancy, and potentially create an 'immersive uterine sound experience' for public use.
Thanks to the new collaboration between specialist teams at GIFT-Surg and Sonic Womb Productions, supported by Goldmiths, University of London and UCL, a research associate will be hired to build a computer model of the acoustical properties of the womb at between 6 and 9 months gestation. This will shape the construction of incubators in the future.
At present there is very limited data on how sounds are physically experienced by the fetus during pregnancy - but scientists believe that the current levels of sound in neonatal intensive care units may place unnecessary stress on premature babies. Reducing noise levels inside incubators should therefore have a positive effect on babies' recovery and development.
The associate will co-supervised by Professor Eric Jauniaux, (UCL Institute of Women’s Health) Nader Saffari and Pierre Gelat (UCL Ultrasonics Group). Professor Julian Henriques (Goldsmiths University of London) will provide advisory support on auditory developments.
Professors Jauniaux and Henriques said:
"Premature babies are incredibly sensitive to sound and vibration, and this project has the potential to give thousands the very safest and most comfortable start in life. GIFT-Surg's cutting edge leadership in computational modelling and acoustics will be critical in helping us generate a scientifically accurate sonic womb."
This collaboration has been made possible by a generous donation from Nathalie and Charles-Henri Samani who have pledged to fund the post-holder for two years with a generous donation of £120,000.
They said:
"Supporting this important research will enable a better understanding of the impact of noise in pregnancy as well as studying how we can improve the auditory environment for premature babies. We are very happy to be involved."
Sonic Womb Productions Ltd was founded by internationally established fetal medicine expert Prof. Eric Jauniaux, leading auditory researcher Prof. Julian Henriques and entrepreneur Aude Thibaut as a multi-disciplinary collaboration between scientists, engineers and sound artists, to re-create the experience of hearing in utero in an acoustically optimised enclosed space.
GIFT-Surg is a 7-year research project funded by Wellcome and EPSRC under the ‘Innovative Engineering for Health’ Initiative. The project is developing a novel surgical platform to address the complex challenges of fetal interventions. Led by Professor Sebastien Ourselin (UCL), GIFT-Surg consists of a collaborative team of over 41 researchers, between University College London and KU Leuven and their associated hospitals.