A Prospective Study Of The Development Of Innate Immunity In Preterm Infants And Susceptibility To Neonatal Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$377,773.00
Summary
Life-threatening infection is extremely common in preterm infants, affecting at least 25% of those born before 28 weeks. Infection results in huge human and economic costs. There is currently no way of predicting which preterm infants will develop infection. This project will enrol preterm infants at birth and track the development of their protective immune system over the period of greatest vulnerability. This will lead to development of targeted treatement for those at greatest risk.
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
Genetic And Environmental Factors And Early Lung Problems Can Be Related To Allergy And Poor Lung Development In Preschool Age Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$122,032.00
Summary
This important new collaboration between the Murdoch ChildrenÍs Research Institute and Barwon Health explores the impact of early lung development on longer term respiratory health. It utilises a newly validated, accurate and safe technique to measure lung function in young babies and children. Data on environmental factors and lung function will help us explore the risk factors for the development of allergy, asthma and lung infections in early life.
High Flow Cannula Therapy In Bronchiolitis, A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,283,342.00
Summary
Bronchiolitis is the leading cause of paediatric hospitalisation in Australia. Despite multiple research studies the outcome has not changed. Our recent studies supported by other international studies have shown that the use of high flow nasal cannula oxygen may reduce the severity and prevent progression of the disease. We aim to investigate if HFNC in regional hospitals can reduce the number of infants transferred to specialist children’s hospitals and reduce the socio-economic burden.
Is There Cytomegalovirus In Mothers Breastmilk And Does It Cause Infection In Very Premature Babies?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$235,970.00
Summary
The hypothesis behind this study is that some very premature infants become infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV) from their mother's breast milk. This proposal is for a study of 200 CMV antibody positive mothers who are expressing breast milk for their very premature infants. We believe this is likely to be about 50% of all mothers. It has been well established that some full term infants are infected with CMV from their mother's breastmilk. The question now is do very premature infants with poor ....The hypothesis behind this study is that some very premature infants become infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV) from their mother's breast milk. This proposal is for a study of 200 CMV antibody positive mothers who are expressing breast milk for their very premature infants. We believe this is likely to be about 50% of all mothers. It has been well established that some full term infants are infected with CMV from their mother's breastmilk. The question now is do very premature infants with poor immunity develop serious infections from cytomegalovirus. This project has the overall aim of determining what proportion of very premature infants become ill with CMV excreted in their mother's breast milk, and then determining the nature and severity of those illnesses. It will also define how many mothers of premature infants are excreting CMV in their breast milk, the time this starts after birth, the viral load transmitted to the infant, the age after birth when the infants first become infected, the proportion who become ill with the infection, the details of the diseases and whether freezing breast milk kills the CMV.Read moreRead less
What Is The Profile, Burden And Consequences Of Cerebral Palsy (CP) Due To Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$87,130.00
Summary
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus that can be transmitted from mother to the unborn child. It is a potentially preventable cause of cerebral palsy (CP). The incidence of CP due to CMV remains unclear in Australia as screening for CMV is not routinely performed in the newborn. Our preliminary data suggests that severe CP is strongly associated with CMV. Here we will use link recorded data and test CMV in newborn screening cards to determine the burden and profile of CP due to congenital CMV in Aus ....Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus that can be transmitted from mother to the unborn child. It is a potentially preventable cause of cerebral palsy (CP). The incidence of CP due to CMV remains unclear in Australia as screening for CMV is not routinely performed in the newborn. Our preliminary data suggests that severe CP is strongly associated with CMV. Here we will use link recorded data and test CMV in newborn screening cards to determine the burden and profile of CP due to congenital CMV in Australia.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Controlled Trial To Evaluate Early Intervention In Chronic Cough In Indigenous Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,432,252.00
Summary
This study aims to determine whether a validated evidence-based cough algorithm initiated at the development of chronic cough, defined as >4 weeks duration, following an acute respiratory illness (ARI) improves clinical outcomes in urban, rural and remote Indigenous children compared to standard care. The study will also examine the predictors of chronic cough and cough outcomes in these children as well as the cost-effectivess of the intervention.
Nasal Highflow For Paediatric Acute Hypoxic Respiratory Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,627,819.00
Summary
The burden of respiratory disease in children requiring intensive care admission is increasing despite better quality care in hospitals. This study investigates a new method, called nasal high flow, to support the breathing of children, that can be provided in regular children's wards in regional and metropolitan hospitals. The study anticipates to demonstrate that early intervention with nasal high flow reduces the need for intensive care admission.
Does Bovine Lactoferrin Prevent Death Or Disability In Very Low Birthweight Infants? Childhood Follow Up In The NHMRC LIFT Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,474,012.00
Summary
Our international consortium of investigators proposes to undertake follow up in survivors among 1,500 very low birth weight preterm infants enrolled in the NHMRC Lactoferrin Infant Feeding Trial, which is designed to evaluate whether low-cost oral lactoferrin supplementation reduces death and disability in early childhood.