Economic impact and policy implications of assisted reproductive technologies in Australia. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is now a large scale economic activity in Australia, provided almost exclusively by private clinics. The outcome of ART programs, involving the birth of one in 30 children, has a profound effect on the health of the nation. Policy and funding frameworks influence how ART is practiced and the subsequent health outcomes of ART children, yet there is a lack of evidence ....Economic impact and policy implications of assisted reproductive technologies in Australia. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is now a large scale economic activity in Australia, provided almost exclusively by private clinics. The outcome of ART programs, involving the birth of one in 30 children, has a profound effect on the health of the nation. Policy and funding frameworks influence how ART is practiced and the subsequent health outcomes of ART children, yet there is a lack of evidence to guide government and providers about effective, equitable and safe approaches to funding ART. This research will address that need, thereby fostering a healthy start to life and preventative healthcare; supporting the National Research Priority, promoting and maintaining good health, for ART children, their families and the community.Read moreRead less
Improving the efficiency of bovine oocyte maturation in vitro. For the dairy and beef industries, the hundreds of eggs (oocytes) in a high value cow's ovary that fail to produce a pregnancy are a wasted genetic resource. A key technology to unlocking this resource is in vitro maturation of oocytes, but the process is inefficient. One possible cause is that the current approaches to maturing oocytes in vitro do not adequately mimic the natural process in vivo. We will design new systems to matu ....Improving the efficiency of bovine oocyte maturation in vitro. For the dairy and beef industries, the hundreds of eggs (oocytes) in a high value cow's ovary that fail to produce a pregnancy are a wasted genetic resource. A key technology to unlocking this resource is in vitro maturation of oocytes, but the process is inefficient. One possible cause is that the current approaches to maturing oocytes in vitro do not adequately mimic the natural process in vivo. We will design new systems to mature cow oocytes in vitro by altering the chemical composition of maturation medium, thus improving the efficiency of laboratory embryo production and related technologies.Read moreRead less
Age at first birth, mode of conception and adjustment to parenthood. The trend to delayed childbearing is well-established, multiply determined and unlikely to change in the short term. This study will provide contemporary Australian evidence on the experience of becoming a parent at different ages, naturally and through assisted conception, for Australian men and women. Both risk and protective factors for older first-time parents will be identified, thus informing policy and services that can ....Age at first birth, mode of conception and adjustment to parenthood. The trend to delayed childbearing is well-established, multiply determined and unlikely to change in the short term. This study will provide contemporary Australian evidence on the experience of becoming a parent at different ages, naturally and through assisted conception, for Australian men and women. Both risk and protective factors for older first-time parents will be identified, thus informing policy and services that can better support Australian families with planning and rearing children. A key outcome will be a Parenting Decision-Aid to provide evidence-based reader-friendly information about the positives and negatives of first-time parenthood at different ages.Read moreRead less