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A small number of babies die unexpectedly while still in the womb: the numbers are much higher than those dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Some of these babies slow their movements down in the days before death. It would be very helpful to be able to accurately monitor babies' movements in the womb so that we could help the few babies who need it, and so prevent poor outcomes. Mothers feel their babies moving, but it's often hard for them to pick up all the movements that do occur ....A small number of babies die unexpectedly while still in the womb: the numbers are much higher than those dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Some of these babies slow their movements down in the days before death. It would be very helpful to be able to accurately monitor babies' movements in the womb so that we could help the few babies who need it, and so prevent poor outcomes. Mothers feel their babies moving, but it's often hard for them to pick up all the movements that do occur. The best way of measuring babies' movements is during an ultrasound. However, that's expensive and means that the pregnant mother needs to lie still for about half an hour to have this testing done. We are developing a way of recording babies' movements, which still lets the pregnant woman continue with her normal activities. We will do this using an AMBULATORY FETAL ACTIVITY MONITOR, which is an accelerometer, like an advanced pedometer. The ambulatory fetal activity monitor will measure the activity of the unborn baby during pregnancy, looking at the number of times s-he moves and how simple or complex the movements are. We expect that the unborn baby who is not getting enough nutrition during the pregnancy will have fewer movements than other unborn babies. This project involves checking that movements picked up by the ambulatory fetal activity monitor are the same as movements seen on an ultrasound. We will then monitor a large number of pregnant women with healthy and possibly unhealthy babies, to help identify the babies who need help. Once we have this information, we will be able to use it in the future to possibly prevent poor outcomes in those babies who do need help.Read moreRead less
Fetal Sex: An Important Determinant Of The Placental Transcriptome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$553,574.00
Summary
There are fetal sex differences in pregnancy outcomes that place boys at greater risk than girls. These are likely caused by genetic differences in the placenta. We will use 21st century gene sequencing technology to obtain the complete sequence of placental genes in early pregnancy and normal term placenta to determine what the genetic differences are between male and female placentas. This may be important in developing future sex specific therapeutics for babies in the neonatal nursery.
Improving Outcomes In Pregnancies Complicated By Asthma: Understanding Mechanisms And Defining Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$707,370.00
Summary
Asthma is a common disease to complicate pregnancy and it is important to identify ways of effectively managing the disease to ensure the fetus has the best possible outcome. The current research focusses on this disease and looks at ways of improving management in pregnancy and improving outcomes for the baby.
Improving The Prediction And Detection Of Contributors To Term Stillbirth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$570,358.00
Summary
Stillbirths are a global human tragedy, with 1 in 130 of all pregnancies in Australia ending in stillbirth. We propose to use ultrasound and blood markers to improve the detection of babies who are not growing well, a leading risk factor for stillbirth. Sleep position has also been associated with stillbirth, so we will study fetal heart rate responses during an overnight sleep study to see if breathing events overnight may be an important contributor to stillbirth in growth restricted fetuses.
Predicting Intrapartum Fetal Compromise At Term Using The Fetal Cerebro-umbilical Ratio And Placental Growth Factor Levels
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$86,733.00
Summary
A lack of oxygen to a baby after the onset of labour (i.e. fetal distress) in an otherwise healthy pregnancy is one of the top three causes of death in singleton pregnancies after 37 weeks. Our previous research has shown that a late pregnancy ultrasound scan combined with a blood test from the mother measuring the levels of a placental hormone can potentially identify pregnancies at risk. We aim to assess the value of this screening test at a major tertiary hospital.
Measuring Hypoxia Induced MRNA In Maternal Blood To Monitor Wellbeing Of Growth-restricted Fetuses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,358.00
Summary
Severely growth restricted fetuses are at peril of stillbirth from low oxygenation. While ultrasound monitoring improves outcomes, babies are still lost. Better ways to monitor the health the unborn baby are needed. We have recently discovered fetuses’ starved of oxygen leak RNA into mother's blood. Thus, measuring RNA molecules in blood could be used to assess fetal health. We will examine whether measuring mRNA in maternal blood could be used to monitor wellbeing of growth-restricted fetuses.
The Role Of Maternal Asthma In The Health Of Mother, Fetus And Child
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$621,458.00
Summary
A/Prof Clifton is a world leader in the area of maternal asthma and pregnancy. Her strengths relate to the fact that she can interface between basic science and the clinic in order to change clinical practice and policy. She consistently publishes her work and is regularly invited as a plenary speaker. She is a recognised leader in her field by her many prestigious appointments. She was awarded an outstanding mentor award 2011 in recognition of her contribution to student supervision and staff m ....A/Prof Clifton is a world leader in the area of maternal asthma and pregnancy. Her strengths relate to the fact that she can interface between basic science and the clinic in order to change clinical practice and policy. She consistently publishes her work and is regularly invited as a plenary speaker. She is a recognised leader in her field by her many prestigious appointments. She was awarded an outstanding mentor award 2011 in recognition of her contribution to student supervision and staff mentoring.Read moreRead less
Sleep-disordered Breathing In Pregnancy-induced Hypertension And Preeclampsia: Maternal And Fetal Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$129,559.00
Summary
Our study aims to compare signs of sleep-disordered breathing (such as snoring and breathing pauses) in pregnant women affected by hypertension or preeclampsia to those with a healthy pregnancy, and to see if they respond differently to the breathing problems. To do this we will examine whether snoring and breathing pauses during sleep have an impact on the pregnant woman’s blood pressure and the unborn baby’s heart rate overnight, and scans will monitor whether the baby’s growth is affected.
Preclinical Development Of TLR Signalling Inhibitors For Prevention Of Preterm Labour And Fetal Inflammatory Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$690,821.00
Summary
Preterm birth affects 8% of Australian births and is a major cause of infant and child health problems. Therapies to prevent or delay prematurity are urgently required. This study will investigate new drugs that suppress the triggers of preterm labour. We will evaluate drug effects in mice and human placental tissue, to demonstrate safety and fetal protection from inflammatory injury that occurs with prematurity. Successful completion of the study is expected to lead to clinical trials in women.