Ear Health, Hearing, Speech And Language Development In Urban Aboriginal Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$445,617.00
Summary
Studies from the Northern Territory and Western Australia have established that Aboriginal children experience earlier, more frequent and more severe middle ear disease than any other children worldwide. There is little information on Aboriginal communities in urban setings or those living in NSW. This study will fill this knowledge gap by examining the burden of middle ear disease, hearing impairment and consequent speech and language delays in urban Aboriginal children in NSW.
Improving Neurobehavioural Development In Preterm Infants: A Randomised Controlled Trial Of A Neonatal Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$680,920.00
Summary
Up to 50% of preterm infants will have one or more developmental difficulties. While medical complications are implicated in these problems, recent evidence points to the added effect of the infant's early environment. Hospitalised premature infants experience stress from necessary but painful hospital procedures, overstimulation and maternal deprivation. Evidence, largely from animal studies, suggests stressful early experience negatively affects brain development. We also know that premature i ....Up to 50% of preterm infants will have one or more developmental difficulties. While medical complications are implicated in these problems, recent evidence points to the added effect of the infant's early environment. Hospitalised premature infants experience stress from necessary but painful hospital procedures, overstimulation and maternal deprivation. Evidence, largely from animal studies, suggests stressful early experience negatively affects brain development. We also know that premature infants find it difficult to handle stress as they are highly disorganised neurobehaviourally. The primary aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a parent-based intervention in enhancing neurobehavioural development at two years of age in very premature infants. It is predicted that this stress-reduction intervention will also enhance medical stability,normal brain development, parent-child interaction and parental mental health. The intervention to be trialled involves intensive training of parents of very premature infants, and in the 12 weeks following birth the parents will be the change agents. A randomised controlled trial comparing intervention and control groups will be undertaken to assess the effectiveness of this intervention. Assessments of early brain and 2 year intellectual, emotional and behavioural development will provide important outcome measures. A major strength of this study is the inclusion of advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology as it enables differences in brain development between the intervention and control group to be assessed, the association between brain and neurobehavioural development to be explored, and the impact of stress on early brain development to be investigated. This intervention is relatively simple and inexpensive, and would be a valuable contribution to neonatal care if found to be effective in enhancing brain and neurobehavioural development.Read moreRead less
Early Origins, Progression And Aetiology Of Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome And Diabetes: A 30 Years Follow-up Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,194,979.00
Summary
This research proposal aims to use the unique existing Mater University Study of Pregnancy (MUSP) and its offspring data and conduct a 30-year follow-up of MUSP children to investigate the early origins, progression and causal pathways of obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes for young Australian. Findings of this study will extend our understanding of the factors driving these health problems with the ultimate aim of being able to reverse the obesity epidemic and improve public health.
The Role Of The HuB RNA-binding Protein In Post-transcriptional Gene Regulation In The Pre-gastrula Zebrafish Embryo
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$545,216.00
Summary
The precise control of protein expression is absolutely critical in biology. The key decisions about which genes are turned on or off at any one moment control the proper growth of an organism during development, and are responsible for the organism's homeostasis and proper response to environmental changes as an adult. The spatio-temporal control of genes is critcal during embryogenesis and we aim to understand how these processes underlie development in the vertebrate embryo.
Impact Of Parental Alcohol, Tobacco And Other Substance Use On Infant Development And Family Functioning
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,996,525.00
Summary
The current study will be the first large-scale Australian birth cohort study to comprehensively examine the effects of substance use in pregnant women and their partners during the prenatal period on infant developement and family functioning. Dramatically improved knowledge of these effects will provide evidence-based direction to the development of public health policy and community interventions that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of Australian children and families.
The Role Of Psychosocial Factors On Recovery Following Early Brain Insult.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$255,475.00
Summary
Early brain insult (EBI) is a major cause of developmental delay and long-term disability. However, outcome following EBI is variable and dependent on multiple injury-related and non-injury-related factors. To date, most research has focussed on injury-related variables such as age at insult, nature of brain pathology, and size and site of brain lesion. These injury-related factors predict short-term recovery following EBI, however they have been found to account for a surprisingly modest portio ....Early brain insult (EBI) is a major cause of developmental delay and long-term disability. However, outcome following EBI is variable and dependent on multiple injury-related and non-injury-related factors. To date, most research has focussed on injury-related variables such as age at insult, nature of brain pathology, and size and site of brain lesion. These injury-related factors predict short-term recovery following EBI, however they have been found to account for a surprisingly modest portion of variance in long-term outcome. Thus, non-injury-related factors must also contribute to outcome following EBI. Research now suggests that psychosocial characteristics (social status, environmental conditions, parenting characteristics, family dynamics) influence long-term outcome following EBI, however these studies have focussed on bivariate relationships, relied on specific patient groups limiting the generalisability of findings, and utilised small to moderate samples that are inadequate when investigating complex interactive relationships. As a consequence, the role of psychosocial factors on recovery following EBI is still unclear. The objective of this project is to undertake a large-scale investigation of the independent and interactive contribution of social status, environmental conditions, parenting characteristics and family dynamics on outcome following EBI. The aim is to identify the psychosocial characteristics that predict outcome, mediate recovery, and buffer the impact of injury-related factors in children with EBI. Understanding these complex inter-relationships is crucial for rehabilitation purposes, as many psychosocial characteristics are fluid and at least partially modifiable. Based on this project's findings we intend to devise and trial appropriately focussed intervention programs that aid recovery and minimise long-term disabilities.Read moreRead less
Effects Of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure On The Developing Kidney
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$602,636.00
Summary
Almost 50% of Australian women consume alcohol when they are pregnant. Although it is generally thought that low levels of consumption (one-two standard drinks per day) are not harmful to the fetus, no study has examined the effect of this level of alcohol consumption on the development of the kidney and the long term renal and cardiovascular function of the offspring. We shall identify if low levels of exposure to ethanol can alter kidney development and impact on long-term health.
The Neurophysiology Of Abnormal Motor Development In Preterm Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$479,967.00
Summary
Better neonatal care has improved survival of prematurely born children. While most of these children will have no obvious brain lesion and attend mainstream schools, many will experience motor and cognitive difficulties and problems with social adjustment. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying this dysfunction are unknown. We will study preterm and term born children to elucidate the physiological mechanisms underlying motor and cognitive dysfunction associated with prematurity.
Hypertension Induced By Prenatal Glucocorticoid Exposure: Roles Of Cerebral And Renal Renin-angiotensin Systems
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$497,500.00
Summary
High blood pressure is a major public health problem in Australia and other developed countries as it is a common risk factor for stroke, heart failure and kidney damage. At present, there is a great interest in the possibility that high blood pressure in adults can result from stresses experienced by the fetus before birth. However, it is not known how prenatal compromise could lead to high blood pressure. We have recently established an animal model (using sheep) in which brief exposure to glu ....High blood pressure is a major public health problem in Australia and other developed countries as it is a common risk factor for stroke, heart failure and kidney damage. At present, there is a great interest in the possibility that high blood pressure in adults can result from stresses experienced by the fetus before birth. However, it is not known how prenatal compromise could lead to high blood pressure. We have recently established an animal model (using sheep) in which brief exposure to glucocorticoids - known as stress hormones - administered to the mother during early gestation results in high blood pressure in the offspring in adulthood. Increased levels of these hormones could occur in women at times when many may be unaware of their pregnancy (ie. smoking marijuana, chronic insomnia, accidents, loss of loved one, physical or mental stress or abuse). In addition, high doses of synthetic glucocorticoids might be given to pregnant patients for the treatment of asthma and acute migraine. The early origins of hypertension are of considerable importance to a large section of the community, namely the 25% who develop hypertension at the age 45 or over. If even a small proportion of hypertension can be prevented by reducing fetal exposure to excess glucocorticoids the impact on cardiovascular illness may be large. This research proposal has the potential to explain the basis for at least some of the 'essential' hypertension for which a mechanism has not been discovered after decades of research. This project will examine the separate roles of the kidney and brain, and in particular will determine whether permanent changes can be induced by exposure to stress hormones during early fetal life. Knowledge gained from this project could be used in devising strategies aimed at preventing or treating high blood pressure in adults.Read moreRead less