GESTATIONAL
AGE DETECTION
BY LIGHT

CHALLENGE

"Gestational chronology is the most important marker of newborn survival.
According to WHO, about 15 million babies are born pre-term each year and one million
die of complications of prematurity. That number is growing.
Prematurity leads the causes of neonatal death and accounts for half of the
cases of neurological impairment in children.
Our challenge has been to explore a new way of measuring gestational age (Round 14- GCE and Round 9 - GCC). "
Access the project at Grand Challenges Explorations
and Grand Challenges Canada e no Grand Challenges Canadá

NON-INVASIVE

The fragility of the premature neonate is a decisive factor in the choices made in the development of this technology.

ACCURACY

Methods used currently manage a margin of error of about 3 weeks. Our goal is to reduce this margin significantly.

PORTABLE

Ease of handling, transportation and compatibility with the restrictive conditions of premature neonates are determinant in the development requirements of the solution.

LOW COST

The reach of technology is inversely proportional to the cost of implementation. An affordable solution has its potential social impact multiplied.

SOLUTION

The correct identification of the gestational age at birth, when clinical parameters and ultrasound are inconclusive or do not exist, can help the health team to make decisions for the best care with the baby. For this, we developed the Preemie-Test, an innovative technology that evaluates the maturity of the skin through its reflection in light, estimating the gestational age at birth. Two multicenter clinical trials are underway to validate the accuracy of the test in the detection of the preterm newborn.
We sought to validate the Preemie-Test and prove its importance in the care of the newborn

Step I: The proof of concept
We found a direct and evolutionary relationship between skin response to light and gestational age.

Stage II: National Multicenter Clinical Trial
The embedded technology  in a portable device was called Preemie-Test. It is under evaluation in five Brazilian hospitals, sponsored by the Ministry of Health.

Stage III: International Multicenter Clinical Trial
The Preemie-test will be used experimentally in four centers of excellence in perinatology, two in Brazil, one in Mozambique and another in Portugal. The proposal won the 9th Round of Grand Challenges Canada (2018), with co-sponsorship of Fiocruz.

Step IV: Market entry
At the end of the clinical trials, we hope to offer a new portable, safe, effective and affordable medical device to assess the gestational age of babies born with chronology of dubious or unknown pregnancy.

  • Step I

    Proof of concept finalized

  • Step II

    A clinical study on 800 babies

  • Step III

    A clinical study on 300 babies

  • Step IV

    Market entry

Team

Researchers involved in the project
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GABRIELA LUIZA NOGUEIRA VITRAL

Biomedical Scientist
Biomedical Scientist. PhD student in Child and Adolescent Health UFMG. Master in Perinatology UFMG. Researcher in Health Informatics UFMG
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INGRID MICHELLE FONSECA DE SOUZA

Biomedical Scientist
Biomedical Scientist. Master’s Degree in Perinatology UFMG. Researcher in Health Informatics UFMG
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Isaías José Ramos de Oliveira

Computer Scientist
Computer scientist, master in Woman’s Health
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Ivana M Norberto Dias

Neonatologist – MZ
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Juliano Gaspar

Computer Scientist
Computer scientist. PhD in Women’s Health. Master in Medical Informatics from UP (Porto-Portugal). Visiting Professor, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics UFMG
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Marconi Augusto Aguiar dos Reis

Pediatric Pulmonologist
Pediatric Pulmonologist. Graduation and Medical Residency UFMG. Master’s Degree in Child and Adolescent Health UFMG. Substitute Professor, Department of Pediatrics, UFMG. Young Investigator on Pediatric Pulmonology – CIPP 2017
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Nilza Mussagy

Pediatrician – MZ
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PAOLA C. DA SILVA

Nurse Neonatologist
Neonatologist nurse. Master’s Degree in Perinatology UFMG. Specialist in Nursing in Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care
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REGINA AMÉLIA LOPES PESSOA DE AGUIAR

Obstetrician
Gynecologist and Obstetrician. Geneticist. PhD in Medicine UFMG. Associate Professor, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics UFMG
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Roberta Maia de Castro Romanelli

Pediatrician Infectologist
Pediatrician Infectologist. Post-doctorate in Medicine IPP (Paris – France). PhD in Medicine UFMG. Adjunct Professor, Department of Pediatrics UFMG
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RODNEY GUIMARÃES

Astrophysicist
Astrophysicist. Post-doctoral in Biomedical Engineering UPV (Valencia – Spain). PhD in Astronomy. Master in Astronomy UNS France
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Sérgio Taunde

General practitioner
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WAGNER MAGALHÃES

System administrator
Graduation in computer network. Master’s Degree in Perinatology UFMG. Computer network analyst CINS-UFMG. Researcher in Informatics in Health UFMG.
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ZILMA REIS

Obstetrician
Gynecologist and Obstetrician. Post-doctoral in Medical Informatics – UP (Porto -Portugal). PhD in Medicine UFMG and Germany. Adjunct Professor, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Specialist in Statistics UFMG

COLLABORATORS

Aridne Carolina Nogueira, Diodo A. de Campos, Enrico Colosimo, Gabriela Neves, Ivana Dias, Jovelino Santos, Ludmylla Beleza, Manassés Junior, Márcia M. Pereira, Maria Eduarda Canellas, Marta Rocha Moura, Marynea Vale, Matheus Alves, Nilza Mussagy, Patrícia Marques, Paulo Nader, Rita Rosado, Rayner G. Souza, Sergio Taunde, Washington Minas


FUNDERS

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PARTNERS

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Impact

Gestational age is inversely proportional to the risk of death at birth.
Lack of precision and uncertainty in the chronology of gestation raises the risk to baby's health.

NEWS

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