Climate Crisis and Neonatal Sepsis

Climate change is increasing the spread of bacterial infectious diseases worldwide. Infection causes up to 3 million deaths in newborns in their first month of life every year, a critical period of development.1 External stressors such as malnutrition during pregnancy can impact development of the newborns immune system and their susceptibility to infection for their entire life. We aim to study the molecular response of a newborns immune system to global warming and the increased threat of heat-stress. We will compare the molecular response of newborns from low- and middle- income countries over the first week of life to local climate data (average temperature during the last trimester) to determine correlations between immune system functioning, heat-stress genes, and climate variables. Understanding molecular deviations to immune development caused by rising temperatures aligns with our partner PROOFs core mission to understand and develop diagnosis, prevention, and control strategies for complex human diseases.

Faculty Supervisor:

Amy Lee

Student:

Partner:

PROOF Centre of Excellence

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Accelerate

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