Improving Neonatal Transition For Compromised Infants And Minimising Lung Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$188,226.00
Summary
The projects in this proposal are designed to improve the health of newly born infants before they are born (fetal lactate blood test to assist in decision making), at birth (randomized clinical trials to provide evidence for future resuscitation guidelines) and in the first few hours following preterm birth by studying alternative methods of providing existing therapies for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. These studies may prevent harm and allow a “Healthy start to life”.
Monitoring Oxygen Saturation And Heart Rate In The Early Post Natal Period
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$344,150.00
Summary
In recent years experts have suggested that even a brief exposure to high oxygen concentrations during delivery room (DR) resuscitation is harmful. This has led to a change in our national DR resuscitation guidelines which now advise that 21% oxygen should be considered rather than 100% oxygen for infants of all gestational ages. I aim to develop evidence based guidelines for the use of pulse oximetry in the DR and early post natal period.
Improving Respiratory Transition And Outcomes Of Newborn Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$262,251.00
Summary
Effective mask ventilation is the most important intervention at birth that can reduce mortality and disability in term and preterm infants. I will develop strategies to help clinicians improve their resuscitation skills. I will also study new ways to better support babies’ transition after birth, to improve their short and long term outcomes. The results of this research will change the way newly born babies are cared for around the world.
Centre For Clinical Research Excellence In Newborn Medicine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,519,475.00
Summary
The Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Newborn Medicine will study adverse outcomes for the brains and lungs of newborn babies; it will establish how often these occur in different types of babies (ranging from very premature babies, through to those born on time), investigate the different causes, develop treatments to either prevent or treat the adverse outcomes, determine the long-term consequences into adulthood, and continually re-evaluate the effectiveness of the various treatment ....The Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Newborn Medicine will study adverse outcomes for the brains and lungs of newborn babies; it will establish how often these occur in different types of babies (ranging from very premature babies, through to those born on time), investigate the different causes, develop treatments to either prevent or treat the adverse outcomes, determine the long-term consequences into adulthood, and continually re-evaluate the effectiveness of the various treatment strategies designed to improve the health outcomes for newborn babies.Read moreRead less
Centre Of Research Excellence (CRE) In Newborn Medicine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,622,320.00
Summary
Problems around birth are common and can have long-term implications, including into adulthood. Our goal is to improve health outcomes for all newborn babies and their families by determining factors that enhance outcome and assessing the benefits and consequences of new treatments for mothers and babies. We are world leaders in this field and are dedicated to training the next generation of health professionals in the care of newborn babies, in Australia and the rest of the world.
Generating And Applying Clinical Research To Improve The Outcomes Of Neonatal Intensive Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$568,892.00
Summary
Birth is a complex process and sometimes babies require help to make the transition to independent life. Professor Peter Davis is conducting research into how best to support this transition. This involves helping the lungs to work efficiently and supporting the changes in circulation of the blood to the brain and to the rest of the body. His work aims to quickly identify babies who need help and then provide better treatments to make sure they have the best chance of a healthy life.
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.
Lung Injury Following Resuscitation In Immature Lambs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$227,036.00
Summary
The primary aim of this project is to identify techniques for resuscitating premature babies that cause little or no damage to their lungs. We also want to identify factors that enhance the clearance of liquid from the lungs so air can easily enter to deliver oxygen and remove carbon dioxide at birth. About 1% of babies are born very prematurely and many develop respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). This is the major cause of illness and death in infants born at less than 32 weeks' gestation. Mos ....The primary aim of this project is to identify techniques for resuscitating premature babies that cause little or no damage to their lungs. We also want to identify factors that enhance the clearance of liquid from the lungs so air can easily enter to deliver oxygen and remove carbon dioxide at birth. About 1% of babies are born very prematurely and many develop respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). This is the major cause of illness and death in infants born at less than 32 weeks' gestation. Most of the survivors required assisted ventilation during their first weeks of life. In 1995, 2381 premature infants were ventilated in Australia and New Zealand, requiring 36,407 days of ventilator care. Thus, this is a serious condition with a high financial and social cost. It is known that RDS is caused by damage to the very immature lung which starts an inflammatory reaction. We don't know what triggers the damage and inflammation but believe that the way babies are resuscitated may damage the lungs. Currently, babies are resuscitated with a resuscitation bag squeezed by hand, with 100% oxygen. There is no pressure to stop the lungs collapsing during expiration. As the volume of gas delivered with each breath is not measured, it is possible that the volumes are too large and damage the lungs. This project will investigate whether less damage occurs to the lungs of preterm lambs when resuscitation uses a modern neonatal ventilator where each inflation is limited to a known volume. A small distending pressure will be used to stop the lungs collapsing during expiration. We will also investigate factors that enhance the clearance of liquid from the lungs after the initiation of breathing. The failure to clear lung liquid greatly limits the ability of babies to breathe and exposes those parts of the lung that are cleared to a much greater risk of injury. The results of this study will be directly applicable to the treatment and care of prematurely born babies.Read moreRead less
I am a neonatologist interested in improving the outcomes of graduates of neonatal intensive care units. Currently the focus of my research is stabilisation immediately following birth and my research portfolio ranges from bench-top and animal studies thr
Nasal CPAP For Very Preterm Infants At Birth: Does It Improve Outcome? A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$460,604.00
Summary
Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. Many of these infants need ventilatory support to keep them alive. In 1996 and 1997, 10,471 infants in Australia and New Zealand needed ventilatory support for a total of 72,544 days. This treatment is a great physical burden for the infants and an enormous emotional stress for their parents. Each day of treatment costs about A$2000 so their hospital treatment costs about $72 million a ....Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. Many of these infants need ventilatory support to keep them alive. In 1996 and 1997, 10,471 infants in Australia and New Zealand needed ventilatory support for a total of 72,544 days. This treatment is a great physical burden for the infants and an enormous emotional stress for their parents. Each day of treatment costs about A$2000 so their hospital treatment costs about $72 million a year. Of infants born less than 29 weeks' gestational age, about 40% of the survivors subsequently developed chronic lung disease (CLD). This condition is defined as prolonged dependence on supplementary oxygen therapy. CLD is associated with further costs and increased lung problems and readmissions to hospital in the first year of life. Thus, CLD is an expensive and time-consuming condition that has a high social cost. This project will determine whether treating these very premature babies from birth simply by applying oxygen under a low continuous positive pressure (CPAP) into their nose rather than the present treatment of placing a tube in the windpipe (known as intubation) and ventilation will reduce the incidence and severity of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and subsequent chronic lung disease. The project will involve 600 babies from different, high quality neonatal intensive care units. Babies who are born at less than 29 weeks' gestation and who show signs of breathing at birth will be randomly allocated to be treated with either nasal CPAP or intubation and ventilation. This project will determine whether CPAP treatment at birth improves survival and reduces the severity of the RDS and subsequent CLD, or has no long term beneficial effect. If the trial is successful, this will be one of the most useful new treatments in neonatal medicine because it is simple to use, easier for the babies, and cheaper than ventilation.Read moreRead less