Modern Chemical Exposures In Utero And In Infancy, And Their Impact Upon Early Neurodevelopmental Outcomes In The Barwon Infant Study, An Unselected Birth Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$138,353.00
Summary
I am a paediatric doctor interested in the effects of modern industrial chemicals on children’s development. Even in the womb babies are exposed to industrial chemicals and we know some, like lead, are harmful to developing brains. I am interested in other chemicals that are now suspected to affect development, including the polybrominated diphenyl esters (PBDEs), and I intend to investigate this as part of the Barwon Infant Study, which follows 1250 children from before birth to 3 years.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of A Community-based Weight Management Intervention In Obese Adolescents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$79,534.00
Summary
This research will explore various aspects of managing overweight and obesity in adolescence, including a review of previous studies. The central focus will be participants' weight, health and behavioral outcomes in a randomised controlled trial of a community-based weight management program for 13-16 year olds. A focus group study will be conducted to increase understanding of parent-adolescent communication regarding overweight and the decision to seek treatment.
Psychosocial and economic impacts of rare diseases on Australian children, families and health professionals. Rare childhood diseases have enormous impacts on children and families; health services, and health professionals. This project will enable Australia to lead the international research effort by using a coordinated approach to study the impacts of rare diseases in order to improve psychosocial, health and economic outcomes for children and families.
Strengthening Community Based Paliative Care Services: Towards A Better Understanding Of Medical Aspects Of Caring For C
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$68,892.00
Summary
Caring for children [and their families] in the palliative phase of an illness offers unique challenges. Community based palliative care programs provide a predominantly adult focused service, their experience with children being limited by smaller numbers. This study aims to better characterize the medical aspects of caring for terminally ill children in Australia, thru the use of a parental survey in a large representative cohort at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne (RCH). The focus wil ....Caring for children [and their families] in the palliative phase of an illness offers unique challenges. Community based palliative care programs provide a predominantly adult focused service, their experience with children being limited by smaller numbers. This study aims to better characterize the medical aspects of caring for terminally ill children in Australia, thru the use of a parental survey in a large representative cohort at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne (RCH). The focus will be to identify issues relating to symptom assessment and management, family and caregiver support and psychosocial-bereavement support. The knowledge gained will be used to redesign-strengthen links between paediatric hospitals and community based palliative care programs.Read moreRead less
Being Born Small Is Not Good For The Heart:early Detection Of Cardiovascular Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$486,757.00
Summary
Intra uterine growth restriction(IUGR) is linked to adult onset of cardiovascular disease. However, little is known about the mechanism(s) which underlie this link or which babies are most at risk. This study aims to assess cardiovascular function in infants and children who were growth restricted. Early identification of cardiovascular dysfunction may aid in new opportunities for monitoring and therapeutic targets to ultimately reduce later onset of cardiovascular morbidity in this population.
Improving Community Approaches For Common Childhood Conditions.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$478,602.00
Summary
Melissa’s end goal is community-based strategies that effectively prevent or manage common childhood conditions, which she addresses via four distinct yet unified programs of research (language-literacy, hearing loss, obesity, and early mental health-behaviour). All four programs are guided by long-term strategic plans that include advocacy and translation as central tenets. A further focus is research capacity-building in these areas via her substantial doctoral-postdoctoral programs.
DETERMINING THE MECHANISMS LEADING TO LONG-TERM IMPAIRMENT IN VERY PRETERM CHILDREN: THE VIBeS LONGITUDINAL STUDY.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,061,733.00
Summary
Approximately 50% of children born very preterm will develop significant problems. The objective of this project is to determine the mechanisms leading to these problems. We will do this by assessing at school-age a unique and valuable cohort of very preterm infants (VIBeS cohort) who had state-of-the-art brain scans shortly after birth and neurobehaviour assessments across early childhood. This school-age follow-up will involve repeat brain scans and detailed neuropsychological assessments.
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes After Novel Interventions In Newborn Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$188,226.00
Summary
Children who were sick in the newborn period or born preterm are at increased risk of abnormal development, particularly problems with their ability to walk, think and learn. This research will assess how new treatments affect sick newborns’ later development. For example, giving preterm babies healthy germs, or probiotics, decreases a serious bowel infection, called necrotising enterocolitis or NEC. This research will find out if they also help preterm brain development when the children are 2 ....Children who were sick in the newborn period or born preterm are at increased risk of abnormal development, particularly problems with their ability to walk, think and learn. This research will assess how new treatments affect sick newborns’ later development. For example, giving preterm babies healthy germs, or probiotics, decreases a serious bowel infection, called necrotising enterocolitis or NEC. This research will find out if they also help preterm brain development when the children are 2 years old.Read moreRead less