An Exploration Of Cerebral Palsy Aetiology: Assisted Reproductive Technology And Congenital Anomalies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$89,420.00
Summary
Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability of childhood, describing a group of permanent disorders of movement caused by damage to the developing brain. The causes of CP are poorly understood for most people. This study will explore and quantify the impact of two known risk factors on CP: assisted reproductive technology and congenital anomalies. When these causes of CP are better understood, possibilities for prevention of this disability can be sought.
Epithelial Drivers Of Neutrophil Plasticity In Early Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$849,462.00
Summary
Why airway inflammation becomes chronic so early in life for people with cystic fibrosis (CF) is unclear. This project will use the latest techniques to characterise immune cells found in airways of infants with CF and model in the laboratory how immune cells react to the CF airway. We will challenge CF airway cells with different bugs that can infect the lung, then see if the responses by CF airway cells can change the normal response of immune cells, triggering chronic disease.
Professor Elizabeth Elliott AM is an international leader in rare disease research, as Director of the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit and investigator on The Lililwan project in Fitzroy Valley's remote Aboriginal communities, WA. This will establish prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD); diagnose and manage affected children and support their carers; and provide data to inform service needs for FASD and prevention policy for alcohol use pregnancy.