PREVENT Newsletter Vol 6 July 2021

JULY 2021 | VOL. 6 PREVENT NEWSLETTER Quarterly Newsletter of the PREVENT Study Prevention of Epilepsy by reducing Neonatal Encephalopathy (PREVENT) is the world's largest study on newborns with brain injuries. Led by Prof Sudhin Thayyil at Imperial College London in collaboration with experts and institutions from around the world, we aim to prevent epilepsy caused by neonatal encephalopathy through the implementation of a pragmatic intrapartum care bundle in India. To learn more, visit us at our website Follow us on Twitter

July 2021, Vol. 6 PREVENT Study Update! The PREVENT study had to be paused for a month (30 days) considering the second wave of the COVID pandemic reaching its peak during the month of May 2021, in order to ensure safety of the staff and the patients, as the country went into more stringent COVID transmission prevention regulations. After careful consideration, we decided to restart the study on 1 June 2021. In order to avoid overcrowding and facilitate social distancing, we implemented alternate day shifts for all research staff. Starting 22 July, all sites reverted back to full staff shifts with the issuance of clear guidelines to ensure social distancing. We have also recruited more Research Nurses to our team who will be implementing the OBG care bundle components. Their training is ongoing both virtually and in person. We are in the process of test running the electronic partogram application at all sites. We are gearing up to begin the second year implementation of the study. 2 PREVENT Quarterly Newsletter

July 2021, Vol. 6 Study So Far Until 31 July 2021 Total Mothers Recruited = 24,580 Total Neonates Recruited = 504 Total 3-Month Follow-up Completed = 207 Total 6-Month Follow-up Completed = 128 3 PREVENT Quarterly Newsletter

July 2021, Vol. 6 Congratulations to Our Team! Mrs Bensitta Lincy OBG Project Coordinator We're very excited to announce that Mrs Bensitta Lincy, our OBG Resaerch Nurse took up the role of OBG Project Coordinator starting July. She will be leading the OBG care bundle implementation at both Hubli and Bangalore sites. Bensitta has a Master's in Maternal Health Nursing and has been part of our team since November 2019. Ms Bharathi Krishnan Research Assitant, Bengaluru Hearty congratulations to Ms Bharathi Krishnan who is promoted to the role of Research Assistant at Bengaluru site. She worked in the role of OBG Research Nurse previously for PREVENT. Bharathi completed her Bachelor's in Nursing. She was a lecturer before joining our team. Ms Gabrela Peter Research Assitant, Hubli Hearty congratulations to Ms Gabrela Peter who is promoted to the role of Research Assistant at the Hubli site. She was the OBG Research Nurse in Hubli before assuming this new role. Gabrela completed her Bachelor's in Nursing and went on to do a Master's in Public Health. 4 PREVENT Quarterly Newsletter

July 2021, Vol. 6 From our New Team Members In this issue we would like to introduce some of our newest team members, Dr Mini Jayan, Ms Laveena Noronha and Ms Deepika V. They share their motivation to join PREVENT and what they hope to contribute to the study. Dr Mini Jayan In the PREVENT epilepsy project, I saw an opportunity to work with world-class research colleagues and Senior Biostatistician collaborate with professionals from the UK and from the PREVENT Bangalore leading hospitals of two south Indian states. My want to ‘work for a cause’ made me join the team. Being a part of the team that makes modern medical technology and equipment accessible to the lower middle-income class groups is something to be valued. I am glad to be part of a team, where every individual’s voice is heard and respected which will definitely inspire all the members to go beyond what’s been expected from them. As a biostatistician, I will Design/catalyse the research experiment by collaborating with team members across the study site. Implement an appropriate evaluation procedure by framing proper research questions in the real-life context. Identify the needs/problems of the study and come up with innovative solutions. Liaison with IT staff, and data collecting and data entry operators to ensure the data integrity and proper data structure. Do timely audits for data quality by looking for validity, accuracy, completeness, consistency and uniformity. Ensure data cleansing by fixing structural errors, filtering unwanted outliers, removing duplicate/irrelevant observations and handling missing data. Help the young research fellows develop their research aptitude by mentoring and training them in formulating research ideas. Equip the team members to present/publish their findings in peer- reviewed conferences and journals. 5 PREVENT Quarterly Newsletter

July 2021, Vol. 6 From our New Team Members Ms Laveena Noronha I’m excited about this job opportunity, and I appreciate the wonderful opportunity given to me. I have always looked Project Manager towards projects like this to kickstart my career. There are PREVENT Hubli many reasons why I joined this study. However one of the major reasons for taking up this opportunity was, I am highly impressed with the interesting concept of \"intrapartum care bundle\" for prevention of neonatal encephalopathy. I feel with this type of innovative work PREVENT has put forward, I would be able to confidently chip in the best of my knowledge. The responsibilities which come with this position, indeed provide a great opportunity to showcase my talent & gives me room to grow. I am Deepika Vayankarappadam, B.Sc. Nursing and MSW Ms Deepika V graduate. Following my postgraduate studies, I have gained three years of research experience in Public Health from the Project Manager National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, PREVENT Bengaluru Bengaluru. What excited me the most to join the team is the positive work culture and inclusive values of the PREVENT team. Through this opportunity, I wish to contribute my best towards effective implementation of the study for improving neonatal and maternal care outcomes in India. Being a part of this novel clinical trial research, I would like to effectively coordinate and facilitate the timely achievement of project milestones and objectives; to motivate team members to bring out their talents and potentials to make the best contributions to the study and to grow along with the team by improving my professional and personal skillsets. I believe that this chance to work with PREVENT team will help me to advance in my research career and I consider that each day we get closer and closer towards our goal destination through our consistent efforts. 6 PREVENT Quarterly Newsletter

July 2021, Vol. 6 New Team Members! Our team is growing and we are very excited to welcome the following new members to the team! OBG Research Nurses Mrs Esprance D'souza Ms Christina M Mrs Vidya E Hubli Hubli Calicut Ms Revathi H K Ms Tamil Selvi Bangalore Bangalore 7 PREVENT Quarterly Newsletter

July 2021, Vol. 6 New Team Members! Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring Fellows, Bangalore Ms. Anitha R Ms. Asfia Parvin Ms . Chinthana H N Ms. Dayana Kayala Ms. Deeparani Ms . Jayashree G Ms. Mamatha C Ms. Saranya S Ms . Sree Vidya S 8 PREVENT Quarterly Newsletter

July 2021, Vol. 6 New Team Members! Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring Fellows, Hubli Ms . Basavva Ms . Chaitra Ms . Diana Mrs . Shilpa Mrs . Soundharya Mrs . Monica Ms. Teresa Mrs . Subhashini 9 PREVENT Quarterly Newsletter

July 2021, Vol. 6 New Team Members! Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring Fellows, Calicut Ms .Aswini B R Ms . Aswathi N V Ms . Aswathi OT Ms . Deepa T Ms . Dhanya Baby Ms .Drisya V Ms . Reshma M Ms . Shadi K Ms . Sisila C K Ms . Sruthi Krishna 10 PREVENT Quarterly Newsletter

July 2021, Vol. 6 Next Quarter The next quarter (August - October 2021) will mark the commencement of the care bundle implementation phase of the PREVENT study. We will reach our target of 30,000 recruitments shortly and will complete the first year of baseline data collection. We have recruited research nurses who will be the key members involved in the implementation of the care bundle in the labour rooms across sites. Online training of the team is followed up by face-to-face theoretical and practical training sessions. We are in touch with the senior investigators and advisors to plan the launch of the second year of the PREVENT study. 11 PREVENT Quarterly Newsletter

Creative Corner July 2021, Vol. 6 Life is Why Poetry Full of questions unanswerable By Capt Elisha Asha Latha Full of mysteries untrackable Neonatal Neurology Research Nurse Full of joy unmeasurable Full of surprises unexpectable PREVENT, Bengaluru Full of expectations unimaginable Full of peace unexperienceable Full of reminiscence unperishable Full of blessings uncountable Full of anxieties unsharable Full of love unexpressible Full of thoughts invisible Full of dreams unthinkable Full of ups and downs unstoppable All these turns positive when you Think, look feel, experience and be positive That’s why life is up to you to carry Positive or negative vibes on and That’s really what you are Life is why?????? 12 PREVENT Quarterly Newsletter

July 2021, Vol. 6 \"Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.\" Albert Szent-György 13 PREVENT Quarterly Newsletter