Adolescent Rural Cohort Study Hormones, Health, Education, Environments And Relationships
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,016,983.00
Summary
Adolescence is a time of major physical, emotional and social change, often characterised by risk taking and experimentation. Behaviours and decisions taken at this time of life will shape future health. This rural cohort study will for the first time will study the influence of pubertal hormones on behaviours, mental and physical health and general well being in adolescents.
Centre For Clinical Research Excellence In Newborn Medicine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,519,475.00
Summary
The Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Newborn Medicine will study adverse outcomes for the brains and lungs of newborn babies; it will establish how often these occur in different types of babies (ranging from very premature babies, through to those born on time), investigate the different causes, develop treatments to either prevent or treat the adverse outcomes, determine the long-term consequences into adulthood, and continually re-evaluate the effectiveness of the various treatment ....The Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Newborn Medicine will study adverse outcomes for the brains and lungs of newborn babies; it will establish how often these occur in different types of babies (ranging from very premature babies, through to those born on time), investigate the different causes, develop treatments to either prevent or treat the adverse outcomes, determine the long-term consequences into adulthood, and continually re-evaluate the effectiveness of the various treatment strategies designed to improve the health outcomes for newborn babies.Read moreRead less
I am a psychologist whose research program aims to improve the long-term well-being for children born very small or immature. My research focuses on 1) determining the nature and severity of cognitive and behavioural problems faced by children born very small-immature, 2) investigating how these problems are associated with brain injury and alterations to brain development, and 3) assessing the effectiveness of clinical interventions which aim to reduce complications and enhance development.
Improving The Long-term Quality Of Life For Preterm Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$638,517.00
Summary
My vision is to improve the long-term quality of life of preterm children (<37 weeks’ gestation), with a specific focus on those born very preterm (VP; <32 weeks’ gestation). To achieve this goal my research has two broad and related aims: 1) Determine the neurological and socio-environmental mechanisms leading to impairments in preterm children; and 2) Develop and assess the efficacy of perinatal and early intervention programs for preterm children.
Premature babies often need assistance to breathe but this can injure the lung and lead to abnormal lung development and long-term lung disease. We have recently identified 3 factors that we believe are fundamental to initiating this abnormal lung development. We will demonstrate that these 3 factors mediate abnormal lung development following lung injury at birth. This information can then be used to reduce the incidence and severity of chronic lung disease of the newborn.
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.
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.