Improving Management Of Mastitis In Breastfeeding Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$177,197.00
Summary
Mastitis is a painful breast infection experienced by 1 in 5 breastfeeding women. However, management of this common condition is often not evidence-based and women may receive inappropriate antibiotics and may not receive appropriate investigations. This project will be an intervention at four emergency departments aimed at improving clinicians' management of mastitis. The aim is to improve women's satisfaction with their experience of mastitis and reduce unnecessary cessation of breastfeeding.
Strategies To Increase Breastfeeding Duration In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$285,870.00
Summary
I am a general practitioner and lactation consultant with expertise in breastfeeding research and practice. I am an international expert in nipple and breast pain in breastfeeding women, and have published widely on other clinical topics, including medications for breastfeeding women; also breastfeeding rates and factors associated with lower rates, such as maternal smoking, obesity and low-income. This fellowship allows me to look at ways to improve breastfeeding rates in Australia and to impro ....I am a general practitioner and lactation consultant with expertise in breastfeeding research and practice. I am an international expert in nipple and breast pain in breastfeeding women, and have published widely on other clinical topics, including medications for breastfeeding women; also breastfeeding rates and factors associated with lower rates, such as maternal smoking, obesity and low-income. This fellowship allows me to look at ways to improve breastfeeding rates in Australia and to improve the experience for women and their families.Read moreRead less
Understanding And Improving Outcomes Due To Sepsis In At-risk And Underserved Populations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Sepsis is life-threatening organ failure that occurs in response to infection. Each year, 19 million adults suffer from sepsis and 6 million die. My research will measure sepsis risk factors and frequency in ageing Australians and new mothers (Australia and Vietnam). I will measure the long term impact of sepsis to better understand how sepsis impacts survivors and their families. I will develop and implement relevant, culturally appropriate and evidence-based strategies to reduce sepsis.
Is Infection An Acute Trigger For Preeclampsia? A Case-crossover Study.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$207,761.00
Summary
Preeclampsia is a multisystem hypertensive disease affecting up to 10% of pregnancies. It puts both mother and baby at increased risk of major illness and death. The cause is unknown but inflammation appears to play a key role. We will use an innovative design to determine whether recent maternal infection triggers the onset of preeclampsia. If preeclampsia is associated with infection, preventative strategies can be developed.
Maternal Immune Activation And Adolescent Exposure To Cannabis In Rodents: Do Two Developmental “hits” Lead To Schizophrenia-like Changes In Brain And Behaviour?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$636,711.00
Summary
The cause of schizophrenia most likely lies in early brain development due to either genetics or adverse environments. We will examine two successive environmental ‘hits’ in a rat model: infection during pregnancy followed by early adolescent cannabis use. We will track changes in the brain that occur in late adolescence and in young adults. We will also assess behaviour and brain function in adulthood to see if the animals exhibit patterns that mimic those that we see in schizophrenia.
Do The Developmental Vitamin D-deficiency And Maternal Immune Activation Animal Models Of Schizophrenia Have Convergent Early Pathways ?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$669,580.00
Summary
The etiology of schizophrenia is unknown but it is generally considered to have a neurodevelopmental basis and involve altered dopamine signaling. Using two distinct developmental animal models of schizophrenia we have shown convergent gestational abnormalities in how dopamine systems develop. This is possibly a convergent early etiological mechanism in schizophrenia.
The Effects Of Maternal Infection On Glutamate-related Behavioural, Electrophysiological And Neuropathological Measures Relevant To Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$533,136.00
Summary
There are two well known facts about schizophrenia: maternal infection increases the risk of a schizophrenia diagnosis in adulthood and certain drugs, such as PCP, that affect particular brain chemicals induce symptoms and brain changes in healthy individuals that are similar to schizophrenia. Here we bring these two facts together by attempting to develop a maternal infection model in rodents that mimics the brain changes seen in schizophrenia, thus opening up new options for treatment.
A Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetic And Efficacy Study Of Azithromycin Plus Piperaquine As Intermittent Presumptive Treatment In Pregnant Papua New Guinean Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,684.00
Summary
The purpose of this research is to investigate a new antimalarial combination therapy, azithromycin (AZI) plus piperaquine (PQ), for the prevention of malaria infection in pregnant Papua New Guinean women. It is anticipated that these studies will provide sufficient data to determine if AZI-PQ is a suitable alternative treatment option in PNG, and other countries which have similar malaria epidemiology including the presence of drug resistant parasites.
The Association Of Cerebral Palsy With Fetal Thrombophilia, Infection And Inherited Susceptibility To Infection.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$123,500.00
Summary
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent and non-progressive disorders of movement and posture that manifest early in life, resulting from damage to the immature brain. It is the most common major physical disability in childhood, affecting approximately 2 in every 1000 children born in Australia. Until recently, it was assumed that CP was a result of foetal asphyxia during birth. However, recent studies suggest that asphyxia around the time of birth accounts for less than 6% of all CP cases. ....Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent and non-progressive disorders of movement and posture that manifest early in life, resulting from damage to the immature brain. It is the most common major physical disability in childhood, affecting approximately 2 in every 1000 children born in Australia. Until recently, it was assumed that CP was a result of foetal asphyxia during birth. However, recent studies suggest that asphyxia around the time of birth accounts for less than 6% of all CP cases. In the remaining cases the neuropathology becomes established during pregnancy. Recent evidence suggests that maternal infection (bacterial and possibly viral), and also inherited fetal clotting disorders are often implicated in the development of CP. It is now possible to test stored dried blood spots from babies who subsequently developed CP. Using the modern technology of gene probes for inherited clotting disorders, markers of susceptibility to infection and bacterial or viral infection during pregnancy, some of the antenatal causes of CP may be identified. The identification of the causes of CP may lead to its prevention.Read moreRead less
The Fetal Response To Infection, With Particular Reference To Alterations Of Tryptophan Metabolism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,616.00
Summary
Infection in pregnancy has long been known to be associated with a high risk for brain damage in the baby. There is now good evidence that the brain can be damaged before birth, and in other babies where the brain is damaged after birth there is reason to say that these infants were factors associated with the pregnancy that rendered them vulnerable to risk factors postnatally. Very little is known about the effects of infection on the fetus. Some recent work has shown that substances released f ....Infection in pregnancy has long been known to be associated with a high risk for brain damage in the baby. There is now good evidence that the brain can be damaged before birth, and in other babies where the brain is damaged after birth there is reason to say that these infants were factors associated with the pregnancy that rendered them vulnerable to risk factors postnatally. Very little is known about the effects of infection on the fetus. Some recent work has shown that substances released from bacteria induce cells in the uterus and placenta to produce inflammatory chemicals that can damage the brain. In this project we propose the following model: 1), infection causes the release of substances from the uterus and placenta that disrupt the blood-brain barrier in the fetal brain; and, 2), infection alters the metabolism of the essential amino acid tryptophan in the fetus, causing greater production of metabolites that have toxic effects on the developing brain. We have preliminary evidence to support these two proposals. If the idea is proven correct, it should be possible to administer simple analogues of tryptophan to prevent the toxic metabolites of this amino acid from increasing in the fetus when either the mother or the uterus becomes infected. Because these substances can be given by mouth, this would allow a simple treatment to be developed for women at risk of infection, or who are already infected. This would be particularly useful wherever medical services and resources are limited, as for under-priviledged groups and in Third World countries.Read moreRead less