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Cardiac Function In The Growth Restricted Fetus: The Effects Of Betamethasone And Melatonin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$402,872.00
Summary
I am an Obstetrician interested in the problems of growth-restricted babies. Devastatingly, many of these babies do not survive pregnancy and survivors face difficult challenges throughout their lifetime. My research uses the latest ultrasound technology to study their heart while still in the womb, evaluating if our current treatments are safe or possibly harmful, and finally testing melatonin as an antioxidant to protect their heart from damage they may sustain while still in the womb.
The Consequences Of Innate Anti-viral Effector Responses On Reproductive Outcomes In Placental Mammals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$328,060.00
Summary
The mother's immune system can tolerate the growth of an ostensibly foreign fetus during pregnancy. We will investigate whether exposure to viral infections either just before or during pregnancy can result in reduced fertility and whether it may affect fetal growth and development. These results will contribute in designing effective interventions to limit any potential detrimental outcomes.
Identifying And Preventing Inflammation-induced Brain Injury In Preterm Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$338,652.00
Summary
Exposure to infection/inflammation around the time of birth is one of the most common factors associated with long-term disability. There is no effective treatment. My studies will use world-class techniques for measuring brain structure and function to improve our understanding of how infection/inflammation impacts on development of the preterm brain and determine whether blocking key inflammatory pathways in the brain will help restore normal brain growth and development in preterm infants.
Translating Advances In Cell-free Fetal Nucleic Acids Into Better Perinatal Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$187,322.00
Summary
My overall aim is to translate advances in biotechnology into better care for pregnant women. My first aim is to study brain development by analyzing the fluid that surrounds the unborn baby. This work may provide more information to women about their baby’s expected outcome. My second aim is to evaluate the impact of new DNA technologies on the detection of genetic conditions in the baby before birth. This work will confirm if this new generation of tests is fulfilling our high expectations.
The first kernels of cardiovascular disease begin very early in life; in the womb and early infancy. These early indications are known to track into adulthood, eventually resulting in diseases such as heart attacks. Dr Huang has found that childhood obesity, high blood pressure, cholesterol and a "prediabetes" profile, cluster together and additionally are associated with many factors in the womb and first few years of life. She investigates how to give babies the optimal healthy start.
Stillbirth is a global public health problem affecting 3 million babies annually. In Australia, almost 3,000 stillbirths occur each year, many of which are preventable if the pregnancy is recognised as being at risk. This fellowship will develop novel non-invasive techniques to identify these at risk pregnancies using biomarkers in the mother's blood and cutting edge imaging. The efficacy of these novel techniques to prevent stillbirths and improve pregnancy outcomes will then be assessed.
Role Of Placental Heme-oxygenase Pathway In Regulating Preterm Neonatal Cardiovascular Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$176,719.00
Summary
Babies born prematurely are more likely to experience problems as a result of being born early with males doing worse than females. The mechanisms causing this difference are unknown. The control of blood flow in the placenta and fetus is essential for normal growth and development. This project will investigate the influence of duration of pregnancy, gender, and exposure to antenatal steroids on pathways that control blood flow in the placenta and the newborn in babies born after prematurely.
Fetal Immune Response To Vertical Transmission Of Toxoplasma Gondii
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,891.00
Summary
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that is a leading cause of human abortion and congenital infections of newborns. In addition, recent research implicates Toxoplasma in diagnoses of schizophrenia and other neuromental conditions. Study of Toxoplasma, it's transmission and effects of infection and development of tools such as vaccines and diagnostic technologies will lead to an improvement in health of mothers, newborns and the wider population.