Cooling in Mild Encephalopathy Trial

The COMET trial is part of the CONNECTIONS Consortium for Neonatal Neuroprotection and Time-Critical Trials, a collaborative network uniting hospitals and research teams across the UK and internationally to advance early interventions for newborn brain injury and improve lifelong outcomes. Mild HIE affects around 0.5 to 1 in every 1,000 newborns. Though traditionally considered low risk, recent research shows many affected infants face lasting cognitive and neurological challenges. COMET investigates whether early therapeutic cooling — already standard for moderate to severe HIE — can safely reduce these risks in babies with mild HIE. The results will help guide future neonatal care and improve long-term outcomes for vulnerable infants.