In What Position Should We Be Sleeping Preterm Infants In The NICU?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$409,742.00
Summary
Preterm babies are at risk of brain injury caused by low cerebral blood flow and oxygenation. The prone sleeping position (lying on abdomen) has been found to decrease both cerebral oxygenation and blood pressure in healthy term babies, and is a major risk factor for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. However, it is common practice for preterm babies to be slept in the prone position.This study will examine the effects of prone vs supine positions on brain oxygenation in the preterm babies.
Neuro-protection In The Preterm Brain - A New Role For Dopamine Therapy?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$183,975.00
Summary
Brain injury in premature babies leads to long term adverse outcome. Preliminary data show that dopamine improves brain oxygen. Our study will define effects of dopamine in preventing injury in the immature brain, using animal studies. In immature lambs receiving dopamine, we will test the protective effect of dopamine on brain oxygenation during hypoxia. Outcome will be measured by examining cell injury on lamb brain slices.
A Pre-clinical Trial Of Early Blood Transfusion For Improving Cerebral Oxygen Delivery In Very Preterm Neonates
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$970,603.00
Summary
Long-term disability is common in babies born prematurely. This may be due to insufficient delivery of oxygen to the brain, but currently there is no treatment that increases oxygen delivery to the brain. We will determine if blood transfusion is more effective than current treatments given to prevent brain injury in preterm babies. Transfusion has two benefits. It will increase the amount of blood going to the brain. It will also increase the amount of oxygen carried by the blood.
Limiting Tuberculosis Transmission And Improving The Care Of Affected Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$412,419.00
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) is the biggest infectious disease killer on the planet. Drug-resistant TB poses a particular challenge in the Asia-Pacific region. My research will assist Australia to progress towards domestic TB elimination. It will improve the management of “difficult to treat” cases and help to safeguard the public against ongoing TB transmission. Work in neighbouring countries will help to contain the spread of drug-resistant TB and protect vulnerable young children.
Novel Approaches To Assessing Cerebral Circulation And Oxygenation In Preterm Human Infants.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$489,145.00
Summary
In the first few days after birth, some premature babies develop low blood pressure. It is thought that this meant that the amount of blood and oxygen going to the brain would also fall. If blood pressure became very low, this could injure the brain. Drugs are used to prevent low blood pressure, but their effect on blood flow and oxygen in the brain is uncertain. This study aims to develop simple cotside monitoring procedures that allow neonatologists to monitor oxygen supply and blood flow in t ....In the first few days after birth, some premature babies develop low blood pressure. It is thought that this meant that the amount of blood and oxygen going to the brain would also fall. If blood pressure became very low, this could injure the brain. Drugs are used to prevent low blood pressure, but their effect on blood flow and oxygen in the brain is uncertain. This study aims to develop simple cotside monitoring procedures that allow neonatologists to monitor oxygen supply and blood flow in the brain in tiny babies who weigh less than 1000gm, and what happens within the brain when drugs are given to raise blood pressure. We will employ a new instrument that generates low intensity near infrared light which passes safely into the brain and is absorbed according to the amount of oxygen present in very small blood vessels. As the methodology is new, we intend to first validate the measurement in immature lambs. The instrument will then be applied in studies of babies undergoing intensive care and at risk for low pressure and brain injury, as many as 5000 babies each year in Australia.Read moreRead less
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.
Metabolic Complications Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea During Early Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,375.00
Summary
Adults with OSA are known to have increased risk for heart disease. We will study children with OSA, and an animal model of the disease during early development, to help clarify how this disease of adulthood actually has its origins in childhood. We have already shown that obese children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are more prone to diabetes (metabolic problems) than those without OSA. More recently, we found that this is also true for children who are not overweight. This early diabetes ....Adults with OSA are known to have increased risk for heart disease. We will study children with OSA, and an animal model of the disease during early development, to help clarify how this disease of adulthood actually has its origins in childhood. We have already shown that obese children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are more prone to diabetes (metabolic problems) than those without OSA. More recently, we found that this is also true for children who are not overweight. This early diabetes is known to be to show a future risk for heart disease. This study will examine why OSA in children is linked to metabolic problems. First, we will continue our study in children who are not overweight. We need to study more children to be sure that OSA is truly linked to metabolic problems - whether or not a child is overweight, because this means that children with OSA are at risk for metabolic and future cardiac problems, whether they are overweight or not. Since weight does not usually change after treatment of OSA, we will also study children again, after they have been treated for OSA. We expect to show that treatment of OSA resolves the metabolic problems. Since hypoxia (low oxygen) occurs in OSA we believe that this is the fundamental cause of the metabolic problems. To test whether this is true, we will look for metabolic problems in piglets exposed to similar, low levels of oxygen as those seen in children with OSA, comparing them to piglets that have not been so exposed. We believe that the tendency to develop OSA and diabetes is inherited. To test this, we will study the genes of a very large family whose members have OSA and-or diabetes, and try to find which genes are associated with OSA and with diabetes. This will help determine if the two genes are linked in some way.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Microtubule Composition In The Efficacy Of Antimicrotubule Agents In Paediatric Malignancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$173,380.00
Summary
To enhance the management of both childhood and adult cancers improved understanding of the processes responsible for tumour aggressiveness and drug resistance are required. Microtubules are important structural components of cells which are crucial for normal cell division. This makes microtubules excellent targets for anticancer drugs which can disrupt microtubules and kill cancer cells. This proposal will identify whether the microtubule composition of a tumour cell will predict for the aggre ....To enhance the management of both childhood and adult cancers improved understanding of the processes responsible for tumour aggressiveness and drug resistance are required. Microtubules are important structural components of cells which are crucial for normal cell division. This makes microtubules excellent targets for anticancer drugs which can disrupt microtubules and kill cancer cells. This proposal will identify whether the microtubule composition of a tumour cell will predict for the aggressiveness of certain cancers, and whether this influences which tumours will respond to the vinca alkaloids. The vinca alkaloids are an important class of natural product drugs which disrupt microtubules and are particularly effective in the treatment of adult and childhood cancers. Unfortunately, some cancer cells fail to respond to this treatment due to the development of drug resistance. This proposal addresses vinca alkaloid resistance in children?s cancer and will determine why certain cancer cells fail treatment. Furthermore, this study will identify the role of certain components of microtubules that appear to be related to drug resistance in leukaemia and neuroblastoma cells and whose role is unknown. Chemotherapeutic drugs, such as the vinca alkaloids, are important in the treatment of cancer and knowledge about their interaction with their cellular target will improve the design of new drugs and treatment outcome.Read moreRead less