The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) invites you to participate in a short survey about your
interaction with the ARDC and use of our national research infrastructure and services. The survey will take
approximately 5 minutes and is anonymous. It’s open to anyone who uses our digital research infrastructure
services including Reasearch Link Australia.
We will use the information you provide to improve the national research infrastructure and services we
deliver and to report on user satisfaction to the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) program.
Please take a few minutes to provide your input. The survey closes COB Friday 29 May 2026.
Complete the 5 min survey now by clicking on the link below.
Defining Regional Lung Mechanics To Improve Lung Protective Ventilation Strategies In Newborn Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$287,321.00
Summary
Over 3000 newly born infants require mechanical ventilation in Australia every year. The majority are very premature infants. About 30% of ventilated infants develop serious ventilator induced lung injury. Minimising such lung injury with improved techniques of ventilation which can protect the lung from injury will reduce the considerable short and long term health burden of this population.
Right From The Start: Improving Respiratory Support For Preterm Infants From Their First Breath To Independent Breathing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$266,623.00
Summary
My research program with the world leading research team at the Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne aims to improve the journey of preterm babies from birth, through the neonatal nursery, to a healthy start at home. Too many preterm babies die or have long term health problems. I will study gentler methods to support breathing from birth, investigate better ways of supporting them until they can breathe independently, and assess how to support more babies to stay in their birth hospitals.
Improving Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Of Preterm Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$312,085.00
Summary
In Australia over 20,000 babies are born preterm each year. Preterm babies are at risk of long term developmental problems including movement, learning and behavioural impairments. This research will examine both neurodevelopment and brain development of very preterm (born <30 weeksÍ gestation) and late preterm (32-36 weeksÍ gestation) babies from birth to into early childhood so that we can understand how gestational age at birth relates to development, brain growth and interventions.
Identifying And Preventing Inflammation-induced Brain Injury In Preterm Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$338,652.00
Summary
Exposure to infection/inflammation around the time of birth is one of the most common factors associated with long-term disability. There is no effective treatment. My studies will use world-class techniques for measuring brain structure and function to improve our understanding of how infection/inflammation impacts on development of the preterm brain and determine whether blocking key inflammatory pathways in the brain will help restore normal brain growth and development in preterm infants.
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.
Breathing Easier: Optimising Non-Invasive Ventilation Of Preterm Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$266,623.00
Summary
Every year in Australia more than 6000 premature babies need breathing support after birth. My research focuses on improving the application of ‘non-invasive’ breathing supports for premature babies. These therapies can avoid the baby needing to be connected to a mechanical breathing machine, thus reducing the risk of damage to the baby’s fragile lungs. My vision is to better understand the way non-invasive breathing supports work, and to provide world-first evidence for their use.
Evaluating Neonatal And Child Health Interventions For Evidence Based Planning And Practice In Low Resourced Countries
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,512.00
Summary
The overall aim is to develop a neonatal and child health research programme responding to the various needs of resource poor country governments and provide an evidence base for public and clinical interventions and health programming. One neonatal study is outlined evaluating alternative phototherapy treatment for neonatal jaundice.
Recent scientific advances provide a window into the developing brain. This research will investigate the profound and challenging ethical questions raised by these new technologies. It will look at scientific and ethical questions relating to the use of new brain scans for fetuses and premature newborn infants. It will develop a resource for parents facing potentially heart-breaking decisions about their seriously ill infants.