Caffeine could help protect newborns’ brains: Dr. Maria Eugenia Bernis (AG Sabir) wins GNPI Science Prize 2025
The Gesellschaft für Neonatologie und Pädiatrische Intensivmedizin (GNPI) recently awarded Dr. Maria Eugenia Bernis, postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Hemmen Sabir's RG Neonatal Neuroscience, its 1st Science Prize 2025. The award is endowed with €3,000. She was honored as the lead author for her paper „The Neuroprotective Effects of Caffeine in a Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia Model are Regulated through the AMPK/mTOR Pathway“. ” The study was published in the International Journal of Biological Sciences (to the original publication).
Caffeine saves brain cells
In her study, Dr. Bernis analyzed a topic of great clinical relevance: hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) – one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in newborns. HIE results from a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain during or around the time of birth. Even after an uncomplicated pregnancy, unexpected risks can arise during birth. Oxygen deprivation is one of the most common, albeit very rare, complications.
In a neonatal rat model, Dr. Bernis was able to show that caffeine can have neuroprotective effects even after such an event, meaning it helps protect neurons from damage. Specifically, administering a daily dose of 40 mg/kg caffeine for three days significantly reduced brain tissue loss and inflammation. Caffeine, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, has been used in neonatal intensive care units for decades – mainly to treat apnea (breathing pauses) in premature infants. Bernis’ findings suggest new potential uses – including for term newborns affected by HIE.
Molecular Mechanism Uncovered
Dr. Bernis' study focused in particular on the molecular mechanism of the protective effect. Central to this was the so-called AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway, a cellular "stress sensor" that plays a crucial role in how the brain responds to oxygen deprivation. Her work showed that caffeine can specifically modulate this pathway – triggering protective effects in the injured brain.
New Hope for Newborns Worldwide
Dr. Bernis’ findings provide a concrete starting point for future therapies that could reduce the risk of long-term damage in newborn babies after an HIE event, especially in countries with limited medical and technical resources, where neuroprotective measures have been difficult to implement until now.
Maria Eugenia Bernis' research not only contributes to a better understanding of the brain's cellular protective mechanisms, but also paves the way for simple and effective therapies in neonatology that could help reduce infant mortality worldwide.
June 2025