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Fetal Sex: An Important Determinant Of The Placental Transcriptome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$553,574.00
Summary
There are fetal sex differences in pregnancy outcomes that place boys at greater risk than girls. These are likely caused by genetic differences in the placenta. We will use 21st century gene sequencing technology to obtain the complete sequence of placental genes in early pregnancy and normal term placenta to determine what the genetic differences are between male and female placentas. This may be important in developing future sex specific therapeutics for babies in the neonatal nursery.
Is Placental Aging The Key To Understanding, Predicting And Preventing Stillbirth?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,861.00
Summary
Stillbirth occurs in 35 times as many pregnancies as sudden infant death but the causes are unknown. This project will help to develop tests that can predict the risk of stillbirth so that the obstetrician can deliver the baby before it dies. The investigators hypothesise that stillbirth is due to aging of the placenta and that markers of the aging placenta can be detected in the mother’s blood. The project brings together experts in the placenta, aging and obstetric care of high risk pregnancy.
Improving Outcomes In Pregnancies Complicated By Asthma: Understanding Mechanisms And Defining Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$707,370.00
Summary
Asthma is a common disease to complicate pregnancy and it is important to identify ways of effectively managing the disease to ensure the fetus has the best possible outcome. The current research focusses on this disease and looks at ways of improving management in pregnancy and improving outcomes for the baby.
Prediction And Prevention Of Spontaneous Preterm Birth: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis Comprising Of Prognostic And Therapeutic Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,118,718.00
Summary
Spontaneous preterm birth is an important issue in obstetric care. Since potential treatments (pessary, progesterone) are available, accurate prediction is of imminent importance. We have established a collaborative network of >100 investigators (IPPIC-2) involved in primary studies with data on more than 1.2 milli women. We will estimate the value of individual clinical, biochemical and ultrasound markers for predicting preterm birth, and integrate that with therapeutic interventions.
OPTIMUM - Optimising Pregnancy By Translating Information For Pregnant Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,445.00
Summary
Stillbirth is a devastating outcome for women and their families yet behavioural interventions can reduce risk. Some interventions proven to work well are not always taken up especially by vulnerable or disadvantaged women. The benefits of other interventions are less well known but they have widespread community support. This project will explore community understanding of healthy behaviours and stillbirth risk reduction to ensure development of a culturally appropriate information resource.
The Cardiovascular Toll Of Pre-eclampsia: Determining Impacts On The Maternal, Fetal And Placental Vasculature.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$128,224.00
Summary
Pre-eclampsia is a common condition of pregnancy that causes a rise in blood pressure, protein in the urine and damage to other organs. It can cause significant harm to the mother and baby. In the long term, mums who have had pre-eclampsia are at a higher risk of developing heart problems. We want to explore how the heart changes in a pregnancy complicated by pre-eclampsia, and see if these changes can help us predict pregnancy risk and long term outcomes.
Investigating Causes Of Stillbirths: A Prospective Cohort Study Examining Use And Effectiveness Of A Comprehensive Investigation Protocol
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$567,508.00
Summary
The effects of stillbirth on women and their families are often devastating and long term. Many stillbirths are not appropriately investigated, resulting in lack of accurate data on causes with one-third classified as unexplained. A major driver for suboptimal investigation is the lack of research to guide which tests should be done. This study aims to accurately identify causes of death in 984 comprehensively investigated stillbirths and determine which tests are needed, with consideration of c ....The effects of stillbirth on women and their families are often devastating and long term. Many stillbirths are not appropriately investigated, resulting in lack of accurate data on causes with one-third classified as unexplained. A major driver for suboptimal investigation is the lack of research to guide which tests should be done. This study aims to accurately identify causes of death in 984 comprehensively investigated stillbirths and determine which tests are needed, with consideration of costs and value.Read moreRead less
New Approaches For Predicting Obstetric Complications: Measuring Circulating RNA Of Feto-placental Origin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$322,286.00
Summary
Preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction are serious complications of pregnancy and are the leading causes of newborn death and disability. We propose developing a blood test to accurately predict those at high risk of these complications. Early prediction would provide clinicians an opportunity to intensively manage such pregnancies, enabling early intervention and maximising good outcomes.
Exploring The Impact Of Blood Transfusion On Maternity Outcomes And Healthcare Utilisation: Informing The Use Of Blood And Blood Products In The Obstetric Setting
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$492,479.00
Summary
Around 1 in 10 women suffer excessive bleeding after childbirth, 15% of whom will have a blood transfusion. New guidelines for obstetric blood management will be released in 2015. This research will investigate obstetric transfusion practices before and after guideline implementation. Research aims include identifying variation in treatment of women at risk of and experiencing transfusion, addressing knowledge gaps in guidelines and investigating emerging issues in obstetric transfusion medicine
Asthma Management In Pregnancy: Evaluating Costs, Benefits And Behaviours
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$319,157.00
Summary
Asthma is the most common complication to affect pregnancy and it worsens with pregnancy contributing to an increased incidence of morbidity and mortality for the baby. We think we can improve the health of the pregnant, asthmatic mothers and prevent a poor outcome for the baby by empowering asthmatic mothers to self manage their disease through education in an antenatal setting. We will assess whether antenatal asthma education and management is a cost effective approach to managing this diseas ....Asthma is the most common complication to affect pregnancy and it worsens with pregnancy contributing to an increased incidence of morbidity and mortality for the baby. We think we can improve the health of the pregnant, asthmatic mothers and prevent a poor outcome for the baby by empowering asthmatic mothers to self manage their disease through education in an antenatal setting. We will assess whether antenatal asthma education and management is a cost effective approach to managing this disease during pregnancy.Read moreRead less