Newborn babies are at risk of becoming short of oxygen during delivery. Death or brain damage may result. In the days after birth, when the brain is attempting to recover from the lack of oxygen, seizures (also called fits) are common. Seizures may cause further damage to the brain because they release damaging chemicals such as glutamate or because they make extra energy demands on the brain that cannot be met. It is difficult to be certain whether unusual movements or twitches are seizures or ....Newborn babies are at risk of becoming short of oxygen during delivery. Death or brain damage may result. In the days after birth, when the brain is attempting to recover from the lack of oxygen, seizures (also called fits) are common. Seizures may cause further damage to the brain because they release damaging chemicals such as glutamate or because they make extra energy demands on the brain that cannot be met. It is difficult to be certain whether unusual movements or twitches are seizures or not. To detect seizures, it is necessary to measure the EEG, the tiny electrical signals from the brain that can be measured from the scalp using small stick on electrodes. It is difficult to measure EEG, particularly for longer periods, because the electrodes may fall off, the baby may move excessively or electrical interference may ruin the recording. We are proposing to measure EEG for 48 hours in babies who have suffered a lack of oxygen during delivery. We will develop, optimise and implement a new method of automatically detecting seizures, building upon 6 years of fundamental signal processing research work that we have done in the newborn. We will test this system against the 'gold standard' to determine how accurate it will be in detecting seizures. We will also try to find out whether damage in particular areas of the brain or in particular cell types within the brain is most likely to be associated with seizures. The anticipated outcome is that we will be able to accurately identify seizures. This is a major step on the path to being able to prevent injury to the brain and to monitor the effectiveness of new experimental treatments.Read moreRead less
I am a perinatal paediatrician undertaking clinically-focussed research on brain development, brain disorders, brain therapies, neurodevelopmental outcomes and the development, application and evaluation of new technology to clinical problems.
Extracellular Acidosis And PH-modulating Drugs As Novel Therapies For Neuroprotection In Hypoxia/ischemia In The Newborn
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$452,310.00
Summary
Approximately 4 out of every 1000 babies suffer severe perinatal asphyxia (a period of a shortage of oxygen) during the birth process which carries with it a high risk of brain damage or death. Those babies surviving with a severe disability cost Australia $500,000,000 per annum in lifelong costs. With currently available methods, the presence of asphyxia is difficult to detect and hence prevention is often not possible. At present, there are no effective medications to treat asphyxia-related br ....Approximately 4 out of every 1000 babies suffer severe perinatal asphyxia (a period of a shortage of oxygen) during the birth process which carries with it a high risk of brain damage or death. Those babies surviving with a severe disability cost Australia $500,000,000 per annum in lifelong costs. With currently available methods, the presence of asphyxia is difficult to detect and hence prevention is often not possible. At present, there are no effective medications to treat asphyxia-related brain damage in babies. This study brings together a multi-disciplinary team driven by the clinical need to develop suitable strategies for neuroprotection in the developing brain. We will investigate the neuroprotective properties of the clinically relevant factor of acidosis and determine how acidosis influences neuroprotectant drugs. In the future, it is envisaged that this study will lead to rationally-based clinical trials aimed at improving neurodevelopmental outcomes for babies who suffer asphyxia and for infants who are victims of near-drowning or head trauma.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms Contributing To Long-term Neuronal Loss After Hypoxia-ischemia In The Premature Neonate Brain.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$432,535.00
Summary
A lack of oxygen (hypoxia) and blood flow to the brain (ischemia) around the time of birth can cause brain injury that perists into adulthood. The burdens on financial, educational and healthcare resources are enormous. We will improve our understanding of what parts of the brain are injured and the mechanisms contributing to on-going brain injury after hypoxia-ischemia.This is important to devise treatments and to provide a healthy start to life for neonates.
Contribution Of Systemic Inflammatory Response To Brain Injury In Growth Restricted Newborns
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$363,388.00
Summary
Growth restriction during pregnancy can damage the baby’s brain and result in poor outcomes such as learning and attention difficulties and cerebral palsy. Currently there is no treatment available to prevent brain injury in these babies. This study will explore the role of inflammation and brain injury in the growth restricted baby. We will also examine whether a readily available and safe anti-inflammatory treatment can reduce or prevent brain injury following growth restriction.
The Relationship Between Maternal And Infant Dietary Intake Of Fermentable Fibre, Gut Microbiota, Short Chain Fatty Acids And Allergic Disease And Asthma: A Population-derived Birth Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$871,700.00
Summary
The proposed study will involve the Barwon Infant Study (BIS) cohort of 1074 infants to provide the first systematic investigation of the hypotheses that the epidemic of allergic disease and asthma in many parts of the world relates to the paucity of fermentable fibre in the modern diet, and that the protective effect of fermentable fibre is mediated by changes in the organisms that colonise the gut and the metabolites that they produce.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia – A Regenerative Medicine Approach
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,406.00
Summary
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a major leading cause of morbidity and mortality in premature babies. There is no cure. We have previously shown that amnion epithelial cells can reduce the extent of lung damage during early stages of lung development. We aim to understand how amnion cells can promote repair by interacting with existing cell types in order to restore normal lung structure and function. The outcomes from this study will help design clinical trials and develop new therapies.
What Role Do Cerebral Hypoxia And Sleep Disruption Play In The Neurocognitive Effects Of Paediatric Sleep Disordered Breathing?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$558,957.00
Summary
Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) describes a spectrum of disorders caused by obstruction of the upper airway during sleep from simple primary snoring (PS) to obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Findings of our recently studies have provided strong evidence that all levels of SDB severity including PS are associated with neurocognitive and behavioural deficits. In this study we will investigate the mechanisms of which underpin these deficits.
Enhancing The Neuroprotective Benefit Of Hypothermia With Melatonin In The Asphyxiated Neonate
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$785,331.00
Summary
During labour, asphyxic episodes which cause a severe reduction in oxygen supply can become prolonged and result in perinatal brain injury, termed Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, which may underlie cerebral palsy. Presently, newborn infants with suspected encephalopathy are cooled, which modestly protects the brain against cellular injury. We propose that the administration of melatonin to the newborn, in addition to cooling, will decrease the post-asphyxic formation of oxygen free radicals, th ....During labour, asphyxic episodes which cause a severe reduction in oxygen supply can become prolonged and result in perinatal brain injury, termed Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, which may underlie cerebral palsy. Presently, newborn infants with suspected encephalopathy are cooled, which modestly protects the brain against cellular injury. We propose that the administration of melatonin to the newborn, in addition to cooling, will decrease the post-asphyxic formation of oxygen free radicals, thereby reducing the progression of brain damage.Read moreRead less
Understanding The Shared Determinants And Causal Pathways Of Early Life Infection, Inflammation And Atherosclerosis.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$632,803.00
Summary
Infection is the commonest reason for childhood hospitalisation, but it is unknown why infection is much more severe in some children. The long-term effects of infection on the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), the underlying cause of cardiovascular disease, is also unknown. This research investigates these important questions with the aim of developing better prediction and prevention of severe infection and reducing its impact on adult cardiovascular disease.