Promoting Protective Feeding Practices To Prevent Childhood Obesity: Follow Up Of A Successful Obesity Prevention Program Commencing In Infancy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$846,965.00
Summary
Almost one in four Australian children are overweight by the time they start school and at increased risk of becoming overweight adults. This study will evaluate if an intervention to equip parents with the confidence and skills to initiate and maintain positive early feeding practices can foster healthy food preferences, dietary intakes and eating patterns and growth up to five years of age. This is consistent with government focus on early childhood as the foundation for health and well-being.
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.
Preventing Academic Difficulties In Preterm Children: An Adaptive Working Memory Training Intervention.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$711,566.00
Summary
Preterm children exhibit high rates of learning disability which has considerable social and economic consequences. It is proposed that these learning difficulties are related to reduced working memory capacity. This randomised controlled trial will investigate the ability of an established working memory training program to improve academic functioning and prevent learning disability in children born extremely preterm. Neuroimaging will be performed to study functional neuroplasticity associate ....Preterm children exhibit high rates of learning disability which has considerable social and economic consequences. It is proposed that these learning difficulties are related to reduced working memory capacity. This randomised controlled trial will investigate the ability of an established working memory training program to improve academic functioning and prevent learning disability in children born extremely preterm. Neuroimaging will be performed to study functional neuroplasticity associated with improved working memory capacity.Read moreRead less
Integrated Solutions For Healthy Birth, Growth, And Development: A Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of A Mixed Nutrition Intervention Package In Reducing Child Undernutrition In Lao People's Democratic Republic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,558,516.00
Summary
The proposed research will provide scientific evidence of the effectiveness of a mixed nutrition intervention package to reduce undernutrition in children aged 18 months or less in Lao PDR. To date there have been no studies that have used robust designs to assess such an approach. The proposal is consistent with the Lao National Nutrition Strategy and National Plan of Action in terms of the elements and the level of the intervention within a rapidly decentralising healh system
Primary Prevention Of Infant Food Allergy: A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Postnatal Vitamin D Supplementation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,723,793.00
Summary
Low vitamin D has been linked to a range of health conditions but, unlike many countries, Australia does not recommend supplementing infants with vitamin D. Good quality research on the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation to prevent disease is lacking. Our trial of 2330 infants examines whether a daily dose of vitamin D prevents the development of food allergy. Vitamin D is safe and low cost. Infant supplementation may be the first simple strategy to reduce this common childhood condition
Early Introduction Of Dietary Allergen To Reduce The Population Prevalence Of Infant Food Allergy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$412,468.00
Summary
Australia has the highest recorded prevalence of childhood peanut allergy, a potentially life-threatening condition. New evidence shows introducing peanut into the diet in infancy can reduce the risk of developing peanut allergy in high risk infants, and allergy prevention guidelines now recommend giving peanut before 12 months. This study will evaluate how effective these guidelines have been in promoting earlier peanut introduction and reducing the population prevalence of peanut allergy.
Does Gastrostomy Improve The Lives Of Children With Severe Disability And Their Families?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,101.00
Summary
Around 750 Australian children are born each year with severe intellectual disability. Problems may include feeding difficulties and frequent hospitalisations. Feeding via a gastrostomy tube into the stomach can be used. We will conduct a data linkage study in NSW and WA, and collect additional data in WA to investigate patterns of gastrostomy use and its safety, effectiveness and costs. Our findings will help the management of poor feeding in intellectual disability.
Preventing Early Academic Problems By Improving Working Memory: Translational Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$831,085.00
Summary
Learning difficulties are common and can cause school failure and poor self-esteem. They are associated with specific problems with temporarily remembering and using information (‘working memory’). Research suggests that improving working memory might improve academic achievement. We will study this intervention in a large group of primary school children who have poor working memory. If successful, the intervention will provide a way to improve the learning skills of these high-risk children.
M-SAKHI : Mobile Health Solutions To Help Community Providers Promote Maternal And Infant Nutrition And Health - A Community-based Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial In Rural India
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,379,427.00
Summary
The proposed research will examine the impact of the mobile phone counselling on child feeding practices, & undernutrition & cognitive development in a rural setting in India. The study aims to collect high-level evidence of whether mobile phone counselling about nutrition in pregnancy, and child feeding, directed at pregnant women and mothers in rural India will i) reduce low birthweight, ii) improve infant & child feeding, and iii) reduce child undernutrition at 24 months.
Peer Counseling To Improve Feeding Practices And Reduce Malnutrition In Children 0-2 Years In Bangladesh
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$951,929.00
Summary
Bangladesh faces high levels of inappropriate infant feeding leading to young child malnutrition. Effective programs are urgently needed to help reduce this burden of malnutrition. The study in poor urban communities in Dhaka City, Bangladesh will examine the impact of local women educating mothers about appropriate infant feeding. We will assess the impact of these programs on feeding practices and the growth of the infants.