The PRONTO Research Lab of the Department of Development and Regeneration will host a “Meet the jury” lecture by Prof. Elisa Fazzi and a lecture by Prof. Corinna Bauer within the context of the doctoral defence of Monica Crotti.
When: April 7th between 12.30h-14.30h
Where: Aula Arenbergkasteel
Kasteelpark Arenberg 1 3001 Heverlee
Parking kapeldreef code: 27712#
Teams link:
Meet the jury lecture – Crotti PhD
Meeting ID: 389 735 382 528
Passcode: 5H7Xm79s
Contact: Monica<dot>crotti<at>kuleuven<dot>be
Registration is mandatory, but free of charge: REGISTER HERE
Prof. Elisa Fazzi (University of Brescia, Italy)
“Cerebral visual impairment: early identification, natural history, and early intervention”
Abstract
The lecture covers key topics related to the importance of visual function, its vital role in early development, and its contribution to understanding brain development. Since visual function is an early indicator of neurological status, the importance of early visual assessments in infants at risk of visual impairment within the first weeks of life is emphasized. Early detection of visual deficits can signal potential underlying neurological damage. Drawing on the multidisciplinary experience of the research group, the NAVEG (Neonatal Assessment Visual European Grid) is presented as a tool designed to assess various aspects of visual function in newborns, recently updated with new normative data. The importance of early detection and intervention for visual impairments is also highlighted, as it supports visual skills and overall neurodevelopment, particularly during the first three years of life when neuroplasticity is at its peak. Findings from a pilot clinical trial show that children who received a visual function promotion intervention achieved significantly better outcomes in visual skills, developmental quotient, language acquisition, and hand–eye coordination compared to the control group. The natural progression of central visual impairment (CVI), particularly in children with cerebral palsy (CP), is also discussed. Understanding the natural course of CVI can improve clinical counseling and intervention strategies. Special attention is given to the frequent co-occurrence of CVI and CP due to the proximity of motor pathways to the visual pathways and the vulnerability of both regions to hypoxic-ischemic injury.
About the speaker
Dr. Prof. Elisa Fazzi is the Director of the Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit at ASST Spedali Civili in Brescia and Full Professor of Child Neuropsychiatry at the University of Brescia. She is the President of the Italian Society of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry since November 2021 and she is a member of the Technical Table on Mental Health of the Ministry of Health. She was President of the SENP (Societe Europeenne de Neurologie Pediatrique) in the period 2018-2020. She is the author of more than 270 articles published in indexed journals. Her main scientific interests include neurology and psychiatry in the early years of life and early intervention, complex disabilities, particularly cerebral palsy, neurodevelopmental disorders, follow-up of premature infants, rare pediatric diseases, and pediatric neuro-ophthalmology, especially on CVI. She participated in several international projects and recently won a Horizon 2024 grant as PI and coordinator for VIPPSTAR, a project involving 18 research groups at the national and international level. She is a founding member and Scientific Director of IALCA (Italian Association for Congenital Leber’s Amaurosis) and IAGSA (International Association for Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome).
Prof. Corinna Bauer (Harvard University, Boston)
“Contribution of neuroimaging to our understanding of the brain changes underlying cerebral visual impairment”
Abstract
Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is a leading cause of pediatric-onset visual dysfunction and can be seen following injury, damage, or malfunctioning of the distributed visual processing networks. In this talk, we will review the literature surrounding how brain structure, function, and connectivity may be different in those with CVI and relate these neuroimaging outcomes to the types and extents of visual dysfunctions and impairments observed in participants with CVI.
About the speaker
Dr. Corinna Bauer is the director of the Lab for Neuroimaging and Vision Science and an Assistant Professor of Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her research focuses on the application of multimodal MRI techniques to study the long-term neurodevelopmental consequences of early brain injury, including impairments in visual processing in individuals with cerebral visual impairment (CVI).
