Organised by the Newborn Brain Society, the International Newborn Brain Conference (INBBC) returned for a third edition to Ireland, and a second to the city of Cork, from 28th February – 2nd March 2024.
All three editions of the INBBC held in the Emerald Isle share the fingerprints of host committee chair, and Fáilte Ireland Ambassador, Professor Geraldine Boylan.
Convening for Purpose
Focusing on neonatal neurology, neuroprotection, and neurodevelopmental outcomes, Boylan’s multidisciplinary team share their experiences of how the conference has facilitated the formation of the Newborn Brain Society (NBS), accelerated collaborations to advance international neonatal research, and spawned developmental outcomes across the pathologies of both the Global North & South via new technologies to advance “the world’s new frontier for technology-driven neonatal brain health”.
O’Sullivan: “NeuroBell would never have existed without the Newborn Brain Conference”
Advancing Impact through Intellectual Capital
Boylan leads the neonatal ecosystem that makes Cork and Ireland an Intellectual Capital in neonatal brain health.
As well as providing the context of a world class multidisciplinary neonatal ecosystem for knowledge sharing, Boylan & Co attracted subsidised registration and event activities for international attendees from Fáilte Ireland and the Cork Convention Bureau in search of collaborative outcomes from INBBC 2024 to drive accelerated advances in neonatal brain health – for families, for society, and for babies – promoting international collaboration and innovation.
Creating Positive and Demonstrable Change
One example of successful collaboration includes her work with the Cerebral Palsy Foundation in partnership with Research Ireland in pursuit of the “sweet spot” for identifying when intervention is required.
That world class ecosystem features the INFANT Research Centre, Irish Centre Maternal & Child Health Research, the Department of Paediatrics & Child Health at University College, and innovation spinouts from INFANT which have germinated from previous exposures to INBBC. NeuroBell, which began its journey at the INBBC Conference in 2015, returned in 2024 as a headline sponsor and a leader of the neonatal tech revolution. Tangible evidence that INBBC delivers on its mission to advance neonatal brain health.
About Fáilte Ireland
As the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland supports the long-term sustainable growth in the economic, social, cultural and environmental contribution of tourism to Ireland. ‘Meet in Ireland’ is the official business events brand for the island of Ireland. It facilitates a partnership between Failte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland to promote the island of Ireland overseas as a world class business events destination. Ireland’s new business events strategy, ‘Business Events 2030’, is a product of collaboration between the Department of Enterprise, and Employment, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and industry leaders from the tourism sector.
Further Reading:
Fáilte Ireland Case Study Series:
Case Study #1: TRANSFORMING RURAL HEALTH: A Tale of 3 Meetings
Case Study #2: IGC 2024 Dublin: Celebrating a World of Difference, Creating a Lasting Legacy
