Improving The Health And Development Of High Risk Preterm Newborns
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$338,381.00
Summary
Preterm children have more health and developmental problems than those born full term. Although we know the problems faced by those tiniest and most immature, more questions remain. What problems do they face as adults? What new treatments are available to improve their outcomes? Are the more “mature” preterms at risk as well? My research program aims to address these questions through the efforts of the Victorian Infant Collaborative Study team, a large research team that I lead.
Impact Of Parental Alcohol, Tobacco And Other Substance Use On Infant Development And Family Functioning
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,996,525.00
Summary
The current study will be the first large-scale Australian birth cohort study to comprehensively examine the effects of substance use in pregnant women and their partners during the prenatal period on infant developement and family functioning. Dramatically improved knowledge of these effects will provide evidence-based direction to the development of public health policy and community interventions that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of Australian children and families.
TORPIDO2- Targeted Oxygen For Resuscitation Of Preterm Infants Effects On Developmental Outcomes 2
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,293,459.00
Summary
Either too much or too little oxygen (O2) causes prolonged harm and death, even if this imbalance is for a few minutes, as at birth. Nowhere is this balance more critical than in the care of the extremely preterm infant (below 28 weeks gestation) with lung immaturity (requiring O2) and antioxidant deficiency. The Torpido 2 study will randomize 1350 infants below 28 weeks gestation to determine long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes and survival after resuscitation with either 21% O2 (room air) or
Developing An Evidence Base For The Psychological Care Of Children And Families Affected By Congenital Heart Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,218.00
Summary
Heart disease affects 1 in every 100 babies, making it one of the most common illnesses in infancy. Diagnosis and treatment of childhood heart disease often causes significant stress and trauma for children and their families. If support is not provided early, children can experience ongoing physical, emotional, and developmental problems. This program is built on a successful history of work and will improve child and family outcomes associated with heart disease through national and internatio ....Heart disease affects 1 in every 100 babies, making it one of the most common illnesses in infancy. Diagnosis and treatment of childhood heart disease often causes significant stress and trauma for children and their families. If support is not provided early, children can experience ongoing physical, emotional, and developmental problems. This program is built on a successful history of work and will improve child and family outcomes associated with heart disease through national and international research collaborations.Read moreRead less
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.
Limiting Weight Gain In Overweight And Obese Women During Pregnancy To Improve Health Outcomes - A Randomised Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,541,444.00
Summary
Being overweight or obese is a major health issue for women during pregnancy and childbirth in Australia. There are well documented risks associated with obesity during pregnancy for both the mother and her baby. This randomised trial will assess whether the implementation of a package of dietary and lifestyle advice to overweight and obese pregnancy women to limit weight gain during pregnancy is effective in improving health outcomes for women and their babies.
Improving Neurobehavioural Development In Preterm Infants: A Randomised Controlled Trial Of A Neonatal Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$680,920.00
Summary
Up to 50% of preterm infants will have one or more developmental difficulties. While medical complications are implicated in these problems, recent evidence points to the added effect of the infant's early environment. Hospitalised premature infants experience stress from necessary but painful hospital procedures, overstimulation and maternal deprivation. Evidence, largely from animal studies, suggests stressful early experience negatively affects brain development. We also know that premature i ....Up to 50% of preterm infants will have one or more developmental difficulties. While medical complications are implicated in these problems, recent evidence points to the added effect of the infant's early environment. Hospitalised premature infants experience stress from necessary but painful hospital procedures, overstimulation and maternal deprivation. Evidence, largely from animal studies, suggests stressful early experience negatively affects brain development. We also know that premature infants find it difficult to handle stress as they are highly disorganised neurobehaviourally. The primary aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a parent-based intervention in enhancing neurobehavioural development at two years of age in very premature infants. It is predicted that this stress-reduction intervention will also enhance medical stability,normal brain development, parent-child interaction and parental mental health. The intervention to be trialled involves intensive training of parents of very premature infants, and in the 12 weeks following birth the parents will be the change agents. A randomised controlled trial comparing intervention and control groups will be undertaken to assess the effectiveness of this intervention. Assessments of early brain and 2 year intellectual, emotional and behavioural development will provide important outcome measures. A major strength of this study is the inclusion of advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology as it enables differences in brain development between the intervention and control group to be assessed, the association between brain and neurobehavioural development to be explored, and the impact of stress on early brain development to be investigated. This intervention is relatively simple and inexpensive, and would be a valuable contribution to neonatal care if found to be effective in enhancing brain and neurobehavioural development.Read moreRead less
Defining The Impact Of Universal Iron Interventions In Young Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial In Rural Bangladesh
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,794,373.00
Summary
Although nearly half of the world's young children are anaemic, evidence regarding the best approaches to correct this problem are limited. New data even suggests that the conventional approaches (iron supplements, multiple micronutrient powders) may even be harmful. We will perform the definitive trial which will confirm the existence and magnitude of any benefit (and harm) from these interventions in young Bangladeshi children. This trial will inform global policy on anaemia control.
Investigating The Relationships Between Cannabis And Other Drug Use, Mental Health, Early-life Factors And Life-course Outcomes: Integrative Analyses Of Data From Four Australasian Cohort Studies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$292,097.00
Summary
The current study will be the first of its kind to use integrative data analyses _ a highly innovative approach _ to pool data from four large and long-running Australasian cohort studies to better understand the link between cannabis use and later-life outcomes. Dramatically improved knowledge of these relationships will create a clearer picture of the interventions required to reduce the harms associated with cannabis use.