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Improving Breathing Support For Newborn Infants In Non-Tertiary Centres: The HUNTER Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,203,844.00
Summary
Every year in Australia, thousands of newborn babies have breathing difficulties. Our trial will study a new, simple method of providing breathing support to newborn babies in special care nurseries, called high-flow (HF). HF is cheaper, easier to use, and more comfortable for babies than the current standard treatment, called CPAP. If HF is as good as CPAP at supporting babies' breathing, it will change practice in Australia and around the world.
Improving Lung Protective Mechanical Ventilation In The Newborn Using Regional Lung Mechanics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$249,130.00
Summary
Premature babies are at risk of severe, and potentially long-term, lung damage. These complications can be minimised if babies lungs are optimally supported from birth. Dr Tingay will examine the influence of different strategies for using mechanical ventilators to help inflate the lung at birth, and their interactions with other therapies used to enhance lung maturity, using exciting new imaging technologies. It will provide new insights into helping vulnerable preterm babies.
Centre For Research Excellence In Advanced Cardio-respiratory Therapies Improving OrgaN Support (ACTIONS)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,593,631.00
Summary
Artificial hearts and lungs are increasingly used to support our most critically ill patients. A greater understanding of patient-machine interaction is needed to maximise their life-preserving potential. ACTIONS CRE will research device-related complications, improve device components, develop clinical practice guidelines, train clinical and engineering researchers and explore the cost benefits of this technology ensuring all Australians can access state-of-the-art mechanical life support.
Optimising Lung Surfactant Protein Production In The IUGR Fetus At Risk Of Preterm Delivery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,853.00
Summary
Pregnant women at risk of preterm labour after 24 weeks gestation are increasingly administered glucocorticoids in Australian hospitals in order to promote fetal lung maturation and a successful transition to extrauterine life. Antenatal glucocorticoid treatment reduces overall neonatal mortality, the risk of respiratory distress syndrome and the need for respiratory support. Babies that are born small may not benefit from this treatment in the same way that average size babies benefit.
Amniotic Exosomes - Nanomedicine For Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$647,058.00
Summary
Extremely premature babies are at serious risk of developing a life threatening chronic lung disease known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia. This is expensive to treat and even babies who survive often end up with lifelong complications. Our team believes that nanoparticles released by placental stem cells have the ability to reverse the disease and that this can be administered without complex medical tools so that parents can administer it themselves after discharge.
Human Amnion Epithelial Cell Therapy For Bronchopulmonary Dyspliasa
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,048,035.00
Summary
Preterm infants, especially those born very early, commonly develop a type of chronic lung disease called bronchopulmonary displasia (BPD). There is currently no cure or means of preventing BPD. Cells from the amniotic membrane that surrounds the developing baby before birth show promise as a treatment, or perhaps even a way of preventing, BPD. This project will use a preterm lamb model of BPD to assess the ability of amnion cells to treat or prevent the disease.
Consequences Of Waveform Composition For Epithelial Integrity And Homogeneous Ventilation During HFOV
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$409,483.00
Summary
High-frequency oscillation (HFO) delivers up to 900 breaths/minute to newborn babies. In theory, the tiny HFO breaths decrease ventilator induced lung injury whilst efficiently delivering oxygen to and removing waste gas from the blood. However, HFO may damage the large airways due to the high gas flows. We will use mathematical models and studies in preterm lambs to assess how to optimise distribution of fresh gas to the lung while minimising any airway damage. Our findings will help doctors tr ....High-frequency oscillation (HFO) delivers up to 900 breaths/minute to newborn babies. In theory, the tiny HFO breaths decrease ventilator induced lung injury whilst efficiently delivering oxygen to and removing waste gas from the blood. However, HFO may damage the large airways due to the high gas flows. We will use mathematical models and studies in preterm lambs to assess how to optimise distribution of fresh gas to the lung while minimising any airway damage. Our findings will help doctors treat preterm babies with lung disease.Read moreRead less
Optimising Lung Protective Ventilation At Birth Using The Volumetric Response Of The Lung In A Preterm Lamb Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$611,021.00
Summary
Prematurity is a common problem which constitutes a major health-care burden. The preterm lung often cannot function independently at birth but is very fragile and susceptible to damage from the very first breathes of life. Life-saving mechanical ventilatory support must protect the lung from injury as well aid lung function. This project aims to improve ventilation strategies for supporting and protecting the preterm lung using novel approaches and innovative technologies.
Resolving 60 Years Of Uncertainty: Oxygen Saturation Targets In Preterm Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$181,065.00
Summary
New high quality evidence has recently shown that targeting the oxygen saturation of very preterm babies at a level used routinely for many years causes an increase in their risk of death. Targeting a higher range reduces this risk but practitioners have been slow to change their practice. A program will be introduced at several newborn intensive care units which will ensure that those caring for these sick babies will be supported to move safely to a policy of higher saturation targeting.
Birth is one of the greatest physiological challenges that we will ever experience and so it is not surprising that it is a period of high risk of death. Despite the risk, our understanding of how infants transition from fetal to newborn life is limited. My research is focused on improving our understanding of how infants make the transition at birth so that we can reduce the risks for these most vulnerable of humans. In particular, I want to improve outcomes for infants born very premature.