Investigation Of The Influence Preterm Birth On Lung Structure And Function In School Age Children.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$204,482.00
Summary
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains the most significant chronic lung complication of premature birth. While some information on the long term respiratory outcomes in BPD exist there are no comprehensive studies linking lung structure, function and respiratory symptoms and relating these changes to neonatal history. Studies of this kind are essential to ensure future healthcare for these children can be planned accordingly.
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.
Non-invasive Methods Of Measuring Work Of Breathing In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$41,267.00
Summary
Sleep-disordered breathing such as obstructive sleep apnoea, is currently diagnosed if a child stops breathing more than once per hour. For children with asthma or cystic fibrosis, who may not stop breathing during the night, how hard their breathing muscles work can have a significant impact on their health. A non-invasive method of measuring respiratory effort, and incorporating this measurement into how sleep-disordered breathing is diagnosed, can revolutionize how sleep-disordered breathing ....Sleep-disordered breathing such as obstructive sleep apnoea, is currently diagnosed if a child stops breathing more than once per hour. For children with asthma or cystic fibrosis, who may not stop breathing during the night, how hard their breathing muscles work can have a significant impact on their health. A non-invasive method of measuring respiratory effort, and incorporating this measurement into how sleep-disordered breathing is diagnosed, can revolutionize how sleep-disordered breathing in children are managed world-wide.Read moreRead less
The Clinical Utility Of Small Airway Function Tests In Paediatric Respiratory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$64,631.00
Summary
Respiratory disease is an important child health issue with long term implications into adulthood. The evaluation of small airways involvement in disease processes, using an accurate sensitive measures of function, such as forced oscillation technique and multiple breath washout, potentially facilitates not only early detection of disease, but instigation of earlier treatment, better assessment of response to treatment, and ultimately better outcome.
A POPULATION-BASED COHORT INVESTIGATION OF LUNG FUNCTION IN RELATION TO EARLY LIFE LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT ILLNESS AND AEROALLERGN SENSITISATION
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$456,013.00
Summary
Infancy appears to be the critical developmental window during which important alterations in lung structure and function develop. In this study we will assess how early lung function evolves in relation to potential insults such as lower respiratory tract infections and allergic inflammation. These are the mechanisms by which asthma is thought to develop. We will use exciting new lung function tests to evaluate lung function abnormalities associated with peripheral dysfunction characteristic of ....Infancy appears to be the critical developmental window during which important alterations in lung structure and function develop. In this study we will assess how early lung function evolves in relation to potential insults such as lower respiratory tract infections and allergic inflammation. These are the mechanisms by which asthma is thought to develop. We will use exciting new lung function tests to evaluate lung function abnormalities associated with peripheral dysfunction characteristic of chronic airway disease such as asthma.Read moreRead less
RCT Of Headbox Oxygen Vs CPAP For Neonatal Respiratory Distress In Non-tertiary Hospitals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$225,500.00
Summary
Each year in NSW hundreds of babies are transferred from local general hospital nurseries to a hospital with Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) because of breathing difficulties. Frequently, mothers are unable to accompany their babies at the time of transfer, leading to stress. When a mother is eventually transferred she is often separated from her partner and local supports causing further anxiety. In addition, if a baby has to be transferred, invasive procedures may be needed to ensure safet ....Each year in NSW hundreds of babies are transferred from local general hospital nurseries to a hospital with Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) because of breathing difficulties. Frequently, mothers are unable to accompany their babies at the time of transfer, leading to stress. When a mother is eventually transferred she is often separated from her partner and local supports causing further anxiety. In addition, if a baby has to be transferred, invasive procedures may be needed to ensure safety. Currently, babies who need oxygen in a local hospital are placed in a crib with a clear plastic box around their head and oxygen is run into the box (headbox oxygen). There is an alternative method of providing oxygen called CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). This involves giving the oxygen directly into the baby's nose via soft rubber prongs. CPAP has been used since the 1970's. It is the main form of respiratory support for infants in many NICUs in Australia and the world. There is some evidence that death and lung disease may be reduced. However, the babies in these studies are sicker and smaller than babies in local hospital nurseries. CPAP is used in some local nurseries in New Zealand, however no studies have been done to see if CPAP reduces the need for inter-hospital transfer. The study will involve hospitals that have been selected because of their level of on site medical and nursing staff. These hospitals will have support and advice from two NICUs that use CPAP as their main form of respiratory support. Babies who need oxygen will be randomly allocated to either have headbox oxygen or CPAP. If the baby becomes so unwell such that certain preset criteria are met, the baby will be transferred to a NICU in the usual way. If CPAP safely reduces the need for inter-hospital transfer, many parents will be saved the anxiety associated with transfer, and the separation it often causes.Read moreRead less
Characterising Lung Growth And Development In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,716.00
Summary
A/Prof Graham Hall is senior researcher at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Perth, Western Australia and is internationally recognised for his research in the area of respiratory physiology in infants and young children. His research focuses on understanding the impact of respiratory diseases, such as asthma and cystic fibrosis, as well as pre-term birth and air pollution on lung function not only in early life but as the lung grows and develops.
Randomised Controlled Trial Of Therapeutic Pulmonary Lavage In Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$182,550.00
Summary
Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is a serious respiratory disease of full term infants, which can lead to very severe respiratory failure. It is caused by the inhalation of meconium, the secretion of the fetal intestine, into the lung at or prior to delivery. As a result, the airways and air sacs within the lung are damaged, leading to difficulty with breathing and poor oxygen levels. About one-third of all infants with MAS require mechanical ventilation in the first days of life, and are ofte ....Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is a serious respiratory disease of full term infants, which can lead to very severe respiratory failure. It is caused by the inhalation of meconium, the secretion of the fetal intestine, into the lung at or prior to delivery. As a result, the airways and air sacs within the lung are damaged, leading to difficulty with breathing and poor oxygen levels. About one-third of all infants with MAS require mechanical ventilation in the first days of life, and are often extremely difficult to manage. At present, the main treatments given to a ventilated infant with severe MAS are supportive, rather than curative. Lung cleansing procedures are not part of routine care in this condition, even though removal of meconium from the lung may reduce the amount of damage that occurs. This project is a randomised controlled trial of a lung cleansing procedure called lung lavage in ventilated infants with severe MAS. During the lung lavage, a quantity of cleansing fluid containing a natural substance called surfactant is introduced into the lung, and then removed by suctioning. This procedure cleanses the lung of some of the meconium, and in preliminary testing, appears to be safe and well-tolerated even in the sickest infants. In the proposed trial, we will randomly allocate ventilated infants with severe MAS to receive either a lung lavage procedure, or routine care. This will take place within 24 hours of birth. We are looking to see whether the lavage procedure shortens the duration of ventilation, oxygen therapy or hospitalisation. Because there are only a small number of ventilated infants with MAS at any one centre per year, we will involve as many Australian neonatal intensive care units as we can in the study. We aim to enrol 66 infants in the trial, of whom half will receive lavage therapy.Read moreRead less
Genetic And Environmental Factors And Early Lung Problems Can Be Related To Allergy And Poor Lung Development In Preschool Age Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$122,032.00
Summary
This important new collaboration between the Murdoch ChildrenÍs Research Institute and Barwon Health explores the impact of early lung development on longer term respiratory health. It utilises a newly validated, accurate and safe technique to measure lung function in young babies and children. Data on environmental factors and lung function will help us explore the risk factors for the development of allergy, asthma and lung infections in early life.
Acute Respiratory Illness In Indigenous And Non-Indigenous Australian Children And The Pathways To Chronic Lung Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,218.00
Summary
Dr Kerry-Ann O'Grady aims to establish a comprehensive research program addressing acute and chronic respiratory infections in Australian children in urban, rural and remote areas. Drawing on national and international collaborations, Dr O'Grady will undertake a range of epidemiological and clinical studies that will address burden, risk, pathways to chronic lung disease and novel interventions aimed at improving lung health.