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Don Sharkey

@donsharkey.bsky.social
277 followers 125 following 59 posts

Prof of Neonatal Medicine & Technologies @Uni Nottingham. Views my own. Neonatal technologies & transport research.

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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 22h
Amazing, well done all. Looking forward to 👀 results, next week 😉?
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
www.bapm.org/events/bapm-... only 2 weeks to go to the 50th anniversary annual conference of @bapmofficial.bsky.social . Super excited as being held in our very own @uniofnottingham.bsky.social . Our group will be presenting some exciting research we believe will shape practice....
bapm.org
BAPM Annual Conference 2026
Working Together to Shape the Future of Perinatal Care.
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
This signal suggests larger adequately powered (90%) studies are required especially in low resource settings where treatment is harder and burden of visual impairment greater. Safety data will be crucial inc. eye infections.
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... Interesting preclinical study. Perhaps has implications for term HIE & preterm brain injury repair? One for newborn brain researchers to consider? @jamespboardman.bsky.social @atulmalhotra.bsky.social @ela-chakk.bsky.social @braintherapies.bsky.social @science.org
science.org
Adenosine 2A receptor drives microglial efferocytosis to accelerate white matter repair and functional recovery after stroke
Stimulating the efferocytosis of cellular and myelin debris by microglia after stroke promotes remyelination.
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Interesting how the two studies (www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....) @nejm.org were very similar but powered very differently. Hopefully an planned IPMA will come next but I'd say the writing is on the wall for EPO. Where next, melatonin? @ebneo.bsky.social
nejm.org
Trial of Erythropoietin for Hypoxic–Ischemic Encephalopathy in Newborns | NEJM
Neonatal hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy is an important cause of death as well as long-term disability in survivors. Erythropoietin has been hypothesized to have neuroprotective effects in infants...
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Small but crucial gains, we suspected this but great to see in RCT. Also fabulous to see @jama.com publishing trials in these populations.
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European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) @espr-esn.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Only 2 of 38 EU health research calls explicitly include children. It’s time to change that. Read the joint white paper from EAP, ESPR, AEPC, ESPE and ESPGHAN and help make child health a research priority. 🔗 www.eurospe.org/wp-content/u...
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Factor in pregnancy and this becomes even harder to understand for babies exposed (or not)....
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Thanks. May not have spotted this one without excellent @ebneo.bsky.social summary. Will now hunt it out....
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... what an inspiring story, if we had more Harchie's we'd be turning our use of technologies for the good and less about profit and destruction.
bbc.co.uk
Lab named after teenager who helped improve tech for disabled
Harchie Sagoo, who had cerebral palsy, was a key product tester for Bristol-based Smartbox.
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
@espr-esn.bsky.social
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Finally awarded the neonatal transport grant I've been building for 5yrs. 🙏 @ukri.org for funding our team £1.5 million ($2M) to finally make interhospital transfer safer for all babies and provide the research community with next generation research tools to accelerate Neonatal Transport care.
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European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) @espr-esn.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
The interactive scientific programme of our 2026 international meeting @cepascongress.bsky.social together with EAP & in collab. with GFCNI is live. Explore session details, confirmed talks & speakers! Kindly supported by @99nicu.bsky.social & @ebneo.bsky.social. More: www.cepas.org/scientific-p...
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The BMJ @bmj.com · 20/05/2026
This Analysis for The BMJ Commission on the Future of Academic Medicine proposes reforms to rebuild the clinical academic pipeline www.bmj.com/content/393/...
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
www.nature.com/articles/s41... Wow, eco friendly house in rural Africa massively reduces malaria, diarrhoea, respiratory infections and improves pre-school children height. Fabulous work, pharma has its place but this is outstanding. Perhaps an approach to consider aid differently rather than cuts.
nature.com
A sustainable house design to improve child health in rural Africa: a cluster-randomized controlled trial - Nature Medicine
A cluster-randomized trial in rural Tanzania showed that a sustainable housing design reduced incidences of malaria, diarrhea, acute respiratory infections and stunting in children under 5 years of ag...
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Fascinating, would be good to understand the implications for preterm birth, nutrition of the preterm infant and impact on outcomes. One for you @jamespboardman.bsky.social
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The BMJ @bmj.com · 13/04/2026
Data used to justify the expansion of controversial software in the NHS is flawed, experts say, and the pilot trust’s innovation adviser worked directly for Palantir bit.ly/4stVolW
bmj.com
Palantir: NHS pilot’s “success” is questioned as second figure at major trust is linked to the tech giant
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The Lancet @thelancet.com · 10/04/2026
"Every 1% increase in military spending drives a 0·62% reduction in public health spending." On the cover, a new letter examines the relationship between military spending and public health expenditure during conflicts. Find out more in our latest issue: spkl.io/63325ANG6W
Cover of The Lancet's April 11, 2026 issue. Quote on cover reads: "Health cannot—and should not—be overlooked in the economies of war."
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SurePulse @surepulsemedical.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Dr James Carpenter will present our new multi-parameter, wireless, vital sign monitoring for newborns to an audience of 90+ investors, strategics, clinicians, and industry leaders helping shape the future of medtech. #MedTechInnovator #MTIRadarForum
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European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) @espr-esn.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Join us at the 17th Dresden Symposium on Feto-Neonatal Health & ESN Spring School under the leadership of ESPR Senior Member Prof Mario Rüdiger!📍 Dresden, 12-14 March.📅 Thu–Fri: cutting-edge talks; 🛠 Sat: hands-on workshops, incl. ESN NPE training. See the full programme here: tinyurl.com/3rhz4cuy
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NeoTRIPs @handle.invalid · 29/12/2025
The next NeoTRIPs Lunch & Learn! 🧬 Clinical Genetics in Neonatal Medicine 🗓️ Friday 23rd January 12-2pm 🎟️ Register with your work email here: neotrips.org/event/neotri...
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
@plos.org
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
journals.plos.org/digitalhealt... New paper out today from @tngchang.bsky.social from University of Nottingham with many collaborators (thanks). Excellent OA online extreme preterm mortality prediction tool with neat explainable element. Great for all perinatal teams.
journals.plos.org
Developing and validating an explainable digital mortality prediction tool for extremely preterm infants
Author summary Increasingly, more premature babies are being born even earlier and surviving. Each premature baby is unique, with different combinations of factors affecting their chances of survival....
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European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) @espr-esn.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
🚀Calling all neonatal & paediatric researchers! Submit your abstract for #CEPAS2026 in Lyon (28–31 Oct) by 1 Apr 2026. Share your innovations, gain skills, and connect globally to shape the future of child health! www.cepas.org/abstracts?ut...
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ambaln.bsky.social @ambaln.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Our BiB trial manuscript now published in JAMA...Early Intratracheal Budesonide for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia url: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com
Early Intratracheal Budesonide for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
This randomized clinical trial conducted at centers of the United States Neonatal Research Network assesses whether early intratracheal administration of a combination of budesonide mixed with surfact...
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NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Paediatrics and Child Health @nihrhrcchildren.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Our September newsletter is now available! Read this month's issue here for news, upcoming events, funding opportunities and recent publications in child health 👉 mailchi.mp/d56096f82afc...
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NEJM.org @nejm.org · 25/09/2025
Editor-in-Chief Eric Rubin asks why, under an administration that says it is focused on making America healthy again, we are denigrating and discarding our single most cost-effective public health tools — vaccines. Read the full editorial: nej.md/4mtH8Xm #MedSky #PublicHealth
Editorial 
"Under an administration that says it is focused on making America healthy again, why are we denigrating and discarding our single most cost-effective public health tools?" 

"Risk and Benefit" by Eric J. Rubin, M.D., Ph.D.
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
Sad to see this come to fruition. @stefanjohansson.nicuverse.org.ap.brid.gy your analysis gets a mention but despite the strengths it is dismissed...😔
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
Very thorough review and highlights early challenges FGR infants need to overcome. As highlighted, tricky to identify who truly is FGR vs constitutionally small.
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Early days but a promising approach. Likely to be more challenging in my population of newborn infants but would be great to explore....
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
I've listened to almost all of these and they are great. Chatting about neonatal research and care. Well worth a listen for all involved in the care of newborns. Good work Mario and @espr-esn.bsky.social
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Really interesting study pushing the boundaries on this tricky and often poor outcome condition. Perhaps a condition that one day will have a handful of centres with expertise to treat and hopefully improve outcomes.
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Chris Kotanidis @cpkotanidis.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
The win ratio method is gaining traction in #RCTs. Is it just a trend or a smarter way to look at composite hierarchical outcomes? We break it down in our latest Stats, STAT!📊 in NEJM Evidence. youtube.com/watch?v=jKtF... #stats @nejm.org @sarahgorey.bsky.social @chardin.bsky.social @ai.nejm.org
youtube.com
How Win Ratios Work | NEJM Evidence
YouTube video by NEJM Group
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Stephen Wardle @stevewardle.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
www.nottinghampost.com/news/notting...
nottinghampost.com
Mum of 'miracle' baby on the pioneering surgery which saved her life
The procedure prevented an extremely premature birth and the baby is now doing well
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NEJM.org @nejm.org · 23/07/2025
Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug that kills mosquitoes feeding on treated persons. In this trial in Kenya, ivermectin given once per month for 3 months led to a 26% lower incidence of malaria than albendazole. Full trial results: nej.md/4lIyNzB #MedSky #IDSky
A graph showing the crude cumulative incidence of malaria infection in the 6 months after the start of three monthly rounds of mass administration of ivermectin at a dose of 400 μg per kilogram of body weight, as compared with albendazole at a dose of 400 mg.
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Tim van Hasselt @tim-van-hasselt.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
Well done to Hannah Mitchell & her great team who produced this hugely important work: Contribution of ethnicity and deprivation to paediatric critical care outcomes in the UK, 2008–21: a national retrospective cohort study - The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
thelancet.com
Contribution of ethnicity and deprivation to paediatric critical care outcomes in the UK, 2008–21: a national retrospective cohort study
Variation in PICU mortality by ethnicity and area-level deprivation highlights the importance of further investigation into systemic drivers of disparities in PICU outcomes in the UK. Targeted strateg...
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 08/07/2025
Impressive technological advancement.
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Aarti Mistry @aartimistry.bsky.social · 29/06/2025
Check out our new open access paper in @pediatricresearch.bsky.social . Highlighting the impact on thermal management, HIE and transport metrics following implementation of active therapeutic hypothermia by regional transport and referring centres for infants transferred for neo HIE rdcu.be/etXDT
rdcu.be
Implementation of active therapeutic hypothermia across a regional transport network for infants transferred for neonatal encephalopathy
Pediatric Research - Implementation of active therapeutic hypothermia across a regional transport network for infants transferred for neonatal encephalopathy
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
Fabulous week hosted by @research4babies.bsky.social in Canada with our team member Syed, neonatal clinical fellow. Great hospitality Georg. Some amazing data on our new neonatal vital signs patch during cardiac arrest scenarios. Thanks for looking after Syed for another couple of weeks!
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The Lancet @thelancet.com · 29/05/2025
The evidence on infection outcomes of hospital-initiated kangaroo care is unclear. In @lancetchildadol.bsky.social, authors evaluate the role of hospital-initiated kangaroo care in preventing mortality, sepsis, and invasive infection in low-birthweight infants: tinyurl.com/46aunenf
Graphical abstract for the Lancet Child & Adolescent Health paper "All-cause mortality and infection-related outcomes of hospital-initiated kangaroo care versus conventional neonatal care for low-birthweight infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis".
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Sharna @headsmartfellow.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Delighted to see the @nihr funded CCD study published today in @lancetrh-europe.bsky.social Lots to celebrate: sex, ethnicity and IMD does not impact time to diagnosis for CYP w cancer. But also lots to improve: young people and certain diagnostic groups need urgent attention. #earlydiagnosis
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Very interesting analysis. 3% difference in mortality if PDA actively treated. Perhaps results in more morbidity in expectant group survivors - not the case. One for the reading pile....
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Wonderful, getting over many challenges to reach this accolade- well done!
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SurePulse @surepulsemedical.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
We’re honoured to receive a Medilink Midlands Business Award with the University of Nottingham, celebrating our collaboration in the Partnership Between Academia and Business category.
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
Such a powerful tool. MRI born in my University, really recommend watching this fascinating 3 min video of where it started. Never be able to do research like this now, "I may have a cardiac arrest"! The images have moved on somewhat and we are just installing an 11T! m.youtube.com/watch?v=3nIX...
m.youtube.com
1978: Dr Mansfield's MRI MEDICAL MARVEL | Tomorrow's World | Science and Nature | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Strong conclusions "Their use should be standard of care for very preterm infants, or offering their use to parents should be standard practice. Just don’t expect them to improve neurological or developmental outcomes" - do you agree?
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Midlands Innovation @midlandsinnovation.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
🚀 Today, we launch #ForgingAhead—a £16M initiative uniting 15 Midlands universities. The project will transform the commercialisation ecosystem by: 🔹 Developing top-tier talent 🔹 Scaling accelerators 🔹 Attracting investment 🔹 Boosting key sectors 🔗 Read more: buff.ly/WyGEssg
midlandsinnovation.org.uk
‘Forging Ahead’ initiative to transform innovation and entrepreneurship across the Midlands - Midlands Innovation
‘Forging Ahead’ initiative to transform innovation and entrepreneurship across the Midlands
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
What a refreshing read. Could apply in many settings. This "Forget the idea that a bubble bath or an essential oil diffuser will magically solve this." is so true. Recommend you read and share.
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European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) @espr-esn.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
🧠 ESPR Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are where ideas grow into action! ✨ 15+ SIGs covering everything from brain imaging to QI & Innovation and beyond 🌍 Connect with experts, contribute to guidelines, shape the future of paediatrics 🔗 Explore & join: www.espr.eu/SIGs/SIG_ove...
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Don Sharkey @donsharkey.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
A very worthwhile 3 minute read for those working in the NICU. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com
Neural Development, Music Therapy, and Active Noise Control in the NICU
This Viewpoint describes intrauterine and extrauterine auditory brain development and advocates for use of music therapy for preterm neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
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