The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Modena is a level III referral center with a strong commitment to clinical and experimental research. The unit coordinates and actively collaborates in several Italian and European research projects, primarily focused on neonatal infections, antimicrobial stewardship, cardiovascular assessment, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, rare diseases, neonatal pain, neonatal neurology, and neurodevelopmental care. The central objective of contemporary neonatal care is neuroprotection and the optimization of brain development. Advances in perinatal and neonatal medicine have markedly improved survival among preterm and critically ill newborns; consequently, protecting the developing brain during this highly vulnerable period has become a primary clinical and research priority.
Therefore, the primary focus of neonatal care has shifted from survival alone to survival with optimal neurodevelopmental outcomes. By emphasizing neuroprotection and comprehensive brain-focused care, modern neonatology seeks to minimize the burden of neurodisability and enable each infant to achieve their full developmental potential.
Principal Investigators: Prof. Alberto Berardi, Prof.ssa Licia Lugli, Dott.ssa Francesca Miselli
