We are an international team committed to clinical trials to improve survival without disability in newborn babies. We plan a randomised trial to confirm if bovine lactoferrin, an inexpensive dairy protein, reduces death or major morbidity and increases total breast milk intake in 1,500 very low birthweight babies in neonatal intensive care units
Best Fed: Implementing Evidence Based Clinical Practice Guidelines To Improve Breast Milk Use And The Feeding Management Of Infants Born
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$177,197.00
Summary
Breast milk is the best food for babies born prematurely. There are challenges for women in providing breast milk and challenges for clinicians in managing the feeds of preterm babies, including when to start feeds and how quickly to progress. Sometimes research evidence doesn’t translate into practice and in this project I will support clinicians to implement the best evidence so that more preterm babies are receiving breast milk on discharge home.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Enhanced Parenting Capacity To Improve Developmental Outcomes In Preterm Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,045,141.00
Summary
In Australia there are 2, 600 very preterm survivors each year. 50% will have education/behavioural difficulties and 10% major disability. We aim to optimise the development of infants born very preterm through a tailored Positive Parenting Program. We predict reductions in child behavioural and emotional problems at 2 years corrected age.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia – A Regenerative Medicine Approach
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,406.00
Summary
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a major leading cause of morbidity and mortality in premature babies. There is no cure. We have previously shown that amnion epithelial cells can reduce the extent of lung damage during early stages of lung development. We aim to understand how amnion cells can promote repair by interacting with existing cell types in order to restore normal lung structure and function. The outcomes from this study will help design clinical trials and develop new therapies.
Brain Injury In The Premature Born Infant: Stem Cell Regeneration Research Network
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$496,587.00
Summary
This project will validate to the stage of clinical trials a human mesenchymal stem cell paradigm to prevent brain injury associated with preterm birth: encephalopathy of prematurity (EoP), which leads to lifelong disability in millions of infants every year. We will achieve this by applying our vast expertise in EoP, across 7 in vivo and 11 in vitro models of EoP, by applying cutting-edge imaging approaches and partnering with experienced patient/consumer advocacy and industry partners.
Docosahexaenoic Acid For The Reduction Of Bronchopulomonary Dysplasia In Preterm Infants Born At Less Than 29 Weeks Gestational Age: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,929,854.00
Summary
A major challenge in the care of very preterm babies, is dealing with the fact that the baby has very immature lungs. They are prone to an inflammatory condition known as BPD (broncho-pulmonary dysplasia) that prevents an infant from breathing, much like asthma in older children. This can result in poor health outcomes for life. Our study will test the effect of the omega 3 fat known as DHA in reducing this inflammation in the lung and result in better outcomes for the baby.
Efficacy And Safety Of Omega-3 DHA Supplementation In Preterm Infants: Childhood Follow-up Of The N3RO Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$713,218.00
Summary
Giving babies born 3 to 4 months prematurely the omega-3 DHA has been thought to improve their mental development. But we don’t yet know if this is indeed so. In this follow-up study, we will be able to find out the important longer-term effects at 5-years of age of extra DHA in the first months of life by assessing the children’s mental development.
DHA For The Improvement Of Neurodevelopmental Outcome In Preterm Infants: The DINO Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,875.00
Summary
The incidence of neurological problems that occur in children born prematurely is higher than for those born at term. The earlier that a baby is born, the greater chance it has of having some developmental delay and general inability to cope at school. This has implications for the child, the families and the health system. One of the many dietary factors implicated in the development of neural abilities in premature infants is an omega-3 fatty acid called DHA. This compound is present in breast ....The incidence of neurological problems that occur in children born prematurely is higher than for those born at term. The earlier that a baby is born, the greater chance it has of having some developmental delay and general inability to cope at school. This has implications for the child, the families and the health system. One of the many dietary factors implicated in the development of neural abilities in premature infants is an omega-3 fatty acid called DHA. This compound is present in breast milk and most preterm formulas and is found in high concentrations in the brain and retina. In the last third of pregnancy the developing baby would normally accumulate DHA at a rapid rate. So it seems reasonable to assume that a baby outside the mother, that is born premature, would also need to accumulate DHA at this same rate. The problem is that none of the milks currently given to premature infants have DHA in high enough concentration to supply this amount of DHA to the baby. For example, breast milk and preterm formulas contain only a third of the DHA required. In order to provide this amount for the premature infant, breast milk containing DHA at about 1% of the total fat is required. Fortunately the level of DHA in breast milk can be increased to this level by supplementing the mothers diet with fish or olis like tuna oil. This study hopes to show that premature babies who receive DHA in amounts similar to that supplied in the womb will develop better than babies who receive low amounts of DHA.Read moreRead less
Retinal Photography To Assess Early Kidney Development In Indigenous Babies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$888,098.00
Summary
The objective of this study is to identify infants who are at high risk off subsequent kidney failure . To achieve this objective, we plan to carry out comparison of kidney growth and function between Aboriginal and and non-Aboriginal infants from birth until they are 2 years old. We also hope to determine if changes in the blood vessels in these infants' eyes correspond to changes in the growing kidney- we are trying to determine if the eyes are the windows to the growing kidneys.