Improving The Neonatal Transition In Infants With A Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$551,644.00
Summary
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a common congenital abnormality and occurs when the diaphragm fails to separate the abdominal and thoracic compartments before birth. This prevents the lung from growing properly and so at birth, the lung is unable to take over the role of gas exchange without considerable assistance. As a result, these infants are at high risk of death or significant disability and this application is focused on improving care and reducing morbidity in these infants.
The Predictors Of Asthma And Lung Function Deficits In The Third Decade: Longitudinal Study Of MACS Sibships
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,176,908.00
Summary
This will be the world’s first birth cohort study to use substantial prospective data to investigate how biological, psychosocial, and environmental markers from birth will predict asthma and lung function in the third decade of life. Our findings will be crucial to the development of new policy and practice for the prevention and management of these conditions and uncover crucial risk factors for young adult asthma.
Improving The Prediction And Detection Of Contributors To Term Stillbirth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$570,358.00
Summary
Stillbirths are a global human tragedy, with 1 in 130 of all pregnancies in Australia ending in stillbirth. We propose to use ultrasound and blood markers to improve the detection of babies who are not growing well, a leading risk factor for stillbirth. Sleep position has also been associated with stillbirth, so we will study fetal heart rate responses during an overnight sleep study to see if breathing events overnight may be an important contributor to stillbirth in growth restricted fetuses.
Measuring Hypoxia Induced MRNA In Maternal Blood To Monitor Wellbeing Of Growth-restricted Fetuses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,358.00
Summary
Severely growth restricted fetuses are at peril of stillbirth from low oxygenation. While ultrasound monitoring improves outcomes, babies are still lost. Better ways to monitor the health the unborn baby are needed. We have recently discovered fetuses’ starved of oxygen leak RNA into mother's blood. Thus, measuring RNA molecules in blood could be used to assess fetal health. We will examine whether measuring mRNA in maternal blood could be used to monitor wellbeing of growth-restricted fetuses.
Epigenetic Programming Of Immune Development In Utero: Role Of The Maternal Environment In The Allergy Epidemic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$764,463.00
Summary
This study will provide new insights into the development of allergic disease. Specifically, we will explore the hypothesis that allergic disease and other disorders or immune dysregulation occur as a result of gene-environmental interactions in early life, and that these events begin in pregnancy when the developing fetus is still developing and most susceptible to these effects.
Birth Weight, Adult Weight And Podocyte Depletion.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$796,252.00
Summary
A major role of our kidneys is to filter our blood. A key cell type in our kidney filters is an octopus-shaped cell known as the podocyte. If we are not born with enough podocytes, or if the filters grow too large after birth due for example to excessive weight gain, the podocytes cannot adequately filter the blood, and this can lead to kidney disease. We will measure podocyte endowment at birth, and assess the effects of weight gain and loss after birth on podocyte features and kidney health.
Do Exposures Before Conception Influence The Risk Of Asthma In Offspring?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$688,586.00
Summary
Asthma and poor lung function are major causes of public health issues. Emerging evidence suggests adverse exposures even before the conception of a child may cause these conditions. The proposed project is part of an international study across generations to identify these factors. This study will provide novel evidence to guide interventions and identify studies to advance this area further. These original findings will be of great importance both nationally and internationally.
Defining The Epigenetic Origins Of Maternally Inherited Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$731,162.00
Summary
Epigenetic (non genetic) changes to the DNA in sperm and eggs can alter outcomes in children. Despite the potential for drugs and diet to mediate some of these inherited effects, the processes involved are very poorly understood. By determining the mechanisms that regulate epigenetic inheritance, this project will improve our understanding of how epigenetic mechanisms acting in the parent, can mediate inherited disease and life-long health outcomes in our children.
M-PreM Study: Reproductive Factors, From Menarche To Pre-menopause, And The Risk Of Cardiometabolic And Respiratory Conditions Before Menopause
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,366,831.00
Summary
This study will investigate links between reproductive factors and body size of premenopausal women with their risk of major chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and asthma. It builds on two decades of survey data from Australia’s flagship study of women’s health with a new biomedical assessment. Findings will guide the use of indicators of women’s reproductive health as a trigger for early and targeted approaches for chronic disease prevention.
Defining Epigenetic Predictors Of Long-term Outcomes Of Preterm Birth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$409,408.00
Summary
On average, those born premature do worse health-wise than those born at term. However, some do worse than others. Our aim is to identify these people at birth to better help doctors and parents to closely monitor their health. For this, we will be “reading the diary of pregnancy” in the molecules added to chromosomes in blood during pregnancy in young adults with will characterised states of health. We will analyse DNA from blood that we will extract from stored heel prick spots.