A POPULATION-BASED COHORT INVESTIGATION OF LUNG FUNCTION IN RELATION TO EARLY LIFE LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT ILLNESS AND AEROALLERGN SENSITISATION
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$456,013.00
Summary
Infancy appears to be the critical developmental window during which important alterations in lung structure and function develop. In this study we will assess how early lung function evolves in relation to potential insults such as lower respiratory tract infections and allergic inflammation. These are the mechanisms by which asthma is thought to develop. We will use exciting new lung function tests to evaluate lung function abnormalities associated with peripheral dysfunction characteristic of ....Infancy appears to be the critical developmental window during which important alterations in lung structure and function develop. In this study we will assess how early lung function evolves in relation to potential insults such as lower respiratory tract infections and allergic inflammation. These are the mechanisms by which asthma is thought to develop. We will use exciting new lung function tests to evaluate lung function abnormalities associated with peripheral dysfunction characteristic of chronic airway disease such as asthma.Read moreRead less
A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Effects Of Early Life Exposure To General Anaesthesia On Neurobehavioural Outcomes In Children With Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$587,240.00
Summary
Anaesthesia permits surgeries and other interventional procedures that benefit the health of children to be performed painlessly and non-traumatically. This study will provide critical information about whether the drugs used commonly for general anaesthesia represents a risk to very young children in terms of their neurobehavioural development.
Bio-molecular Studies For Improved Diagnosis And Management Of Australian Children With Fish Allergy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$496,602.00
Summary
Allergy to fish among children is often life-long and emerging as a significant healthcare issue worldwide, while management of fish allergy is challenging due to the lack of reliable diagnostic assays. This research grant will lead to the development of novel diagnostics for fish allergy in Australia, addressing aspects of the worldwide food allergy epidemic and forms the ideal platform for the study of fish specific allergens, generating novel knowledge for greatly improved patient management.
Understanding The Mechanisms Of Bleeding And Clotting Complications For Children On Extracorporeal Circuits.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,113,385.00
Summary
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is advanced life support, which can save critically ill children. Significant bleeding occurs in 39%; clotting in 31% of children on ECMO; stroke in 12%. The biggest barrier to reducing these complications is the lack of understanding of how the bleeding/clotting system works in ECMO. This unique proposal uses the largest paediatric ECMO population in Australia and a multidisplinary expert team to develop a mechanistic understanding of these issues.
How Do Antibiotics Affect The Gastrointestinal Microbiome In Children?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$215,000.00
Summary
Antibiotics, while vital, have potentially long term negative effects on antimicrobial resistance and other aspects of health. Microorganisms living in the human intestine, collectively the gastrointestinal microbiome, are believed to play a key role. Antibiotics can change the microbiome, and this is potentially important in children due to the longevity of health effects. We aim to determine the effect of different antibiotics (broad versus narrow) on the microbiome over time in children.
Nitric Oxide On Cardio Pulmonary Bypass In Congenital Heart Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,878,889.00
Summary
Children undergoing open heart surgery on a heart lung machine can experience serious side effects from the exposure to the artificial circulation during surgery and may have either prolonged need for life support in intensive care or even may suffer from long term complications. In this study we investigate the use of a new approach using nitric oxide, a anti-inflammatory gas, during surgery to reduce these side effects.
Investigation Into Host Susceptibility And Immune Responses In Young Children With Acute Wheezing Due To Human Rhinovirus Group C Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$682,711.00
Summary
We recently made the surprising discovery that a new viral group, human rhinovirus group C (HRV-C), causes the majority of acute asthma in children. We also found that it causes half of the acute wheezing attacks in younger children, and is the only respiratory virus associated with allergy. So, HRV-C may be the key to the relationship between allergy and asthma. The planned project will focus on whether young children who wheeze with HRV-C have related defects in their immune system.
Neuroprotective Role Of Sulphate Among Preterm Babies (SuPreme Study)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$749,338.00
Summary
Magnesium sulphate administered to mothers shortly before preterm birth, reduces the risk of cerebral palsy. The mechanism of its neuroprotective effect is unknown, and our studies suggest sulphate is the protective element. Preterm babies rapidly become sulphate deficient, and magnesium sulphate mitigates this deficiency in most infants. In this study we will investigate whether low blood sulphate levels at 1 week of age correlate with cerebral palsy.
Neurobehaviour Between Birth And 40 Weeks In Infants Born
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$832,215.00
Summary
Very preterm infants (born at <30 weeks’ gestation) are at risk of long term developmental problems with 50% having cognitive, motor or behavioural problems. This study will examine, for the first time, neurobehavioral development of very preterm infants from birth so that we can describe neurobehaviour for a given gestation from birth to term equivalent age, and explore how it relates to brain growth or injury and to neurodevelopmental outcome at two years’ corrected age.
A Multi-centre, Double-blind, Randomised Controlled Trial To Evaluate The Efficacy Of 10 Valent-pneumococcal-Protein D Conjugate Vaccine In Reducing Respiratory Exacerbations In Children Aged ? 18 Months With Suppurative Lung Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,160,660.00
Summary
Chronic suppurative (ie infected) lung diseases in children are major causes of poor health and deaths worldwide. Repeated childhood infections contribute to poor lung health in adults. The most common organism causing infection is non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). This study aims to determine whether a vaccine against NTHi can reduce repeated respiratory infections in children. If so, vaccination may lead to substantial improvements in current/ future lung health, and considerable dir ....Chronic suppurative (ie infected) lung diseases in children are major causes of poor health and deaths worldwide. Repeated childhood infections contribute to poor lung health in adults. The most common organism causing infection is non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). This study aims to determine whether a vaccine against NTHi can reduce repeated respiratory infections in children. If so, vaccination may lead to substantial improvements in current/ future lung health, and considerable direct and indirect cost of disease savings.Read moreRead less