title: Advances in imaging the neonatal brain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brain injury in the newborn is a major cause of death and lifelong disability. The newborn brain is vulnerable to injury from a variety of causes, including hypoxia-ischaemia, haemorrhage and infection, yet has a remarkable capacity for repair. New neuroprotective therapies are being developed that have the potential to improve neurodevelopmental outcome in this vulnerable population. Brain imaging has revolutionised our understanding of the aetiology, pathophysiology and prognosis of damage in both term and preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper reviews the main clinical imaging methodologies, principally ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, and describes new clinical and research techniques being developed using a range of imaging modalities. This paper provides an overview of perinatal brain injury and the importance of imaging in the management of these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conventional brain imaging is important in neonatal care. However, the challenge is to correlate brain structure with function, and new technologies will provide new insights into the function of the developing brain. Imaging is also going to play a key role as an early biomarker facilitating trials of new neuroprotective therapies.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Box 226, The Rosie Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK +01223 217677 ; topun.austin@addenbrookes.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Topun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: O'Reilly