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John Barks is a neonatologist whose research focuses on mechanisms of injury to the developing brain, primarily hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, and on mechanisms of recovery from neonatal brain injury. Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury is responsible for approximately 10-20% of all cases of cerebral palsy in infants born at term, and a greater proportion of cases of cerebral palsy in infants born prematurely. Dr. Barks explores the mechanisms of brain injury through basic research in models of stroke-like brain injury in immature rats and mice. Barks, and collaborators D.M Vazquez M.D. and B.T. Felt M.D. are investigating the neural mechanisms (e.g. synaptogenesis, neurogenesis) underlying the beneficial effects, on later cognitive and emotional function, of behavioral interventions instituted after hypoxic-ischemic neonatal brain injury. Behavioral interventions being evaluated in neonatal rodents include Early Neonatal Handling and Neonatal Novelty Exposure. Neurobehavioral assessment tools that are sensitive to changes in severity of neonatal brain injury in rats, e.g. place navigation in the Morris Watermaze, are used to evaluate functional outcome. In related clinical research, Dr. Barks participates in a multi-center trial of head cooling for the treatment of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. |
