Aboriginal Birth Cohort Study: From Childhood To Adulthood.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$505,212.00
Summary
Aboriginal peoples have poor health at both ends of their life span. There are more low birth weight babies at the beginning and more kidney, heart disease and diabetes at the end of the life spectrum. The Aboriginal Birth Cohort study aims to examine the effect of early life events (such as low birth weight) on the risk of developing chronic disease in later life with a view to early intervention. The babies of the study were last seen at 11 years and are now being seen again near their 18th bi ....Aboriginal peoples have poor health at both ends of their life span. There are more low birth weight babies at the beginning and more kidney, heart disease and diabetes at the end of the life spectrum. The Aboriginal Birth Cohort study aims to examine the effect of early life events (such as low birth weight) on the risk of developing chronic disease in later life with a view to early intervention. The babies of the study were last seen at 11 years and are now being seen again near their 18th birthday. Data available are weight, length and gestational age of these babies at birth, the health and lifestyle of their mothers during pregnancy and the children's growth and health. By 11 years of age, the low birth babies still remained shorter and thinner than their peers who were normal size at birth, but importantly, markers of chronic disease were not higher in these children. The current round of investigation, in addition to the tests done before, now includes non-invasive markers of heart disease, such as heart rate variability, measures of arterial stiffness and the thickness of carotid intima media (lining) and a dental examination looking at both teeth and gums. For the first time, the study will look beyond the physical to examine the psychological wellbeing of these young adults using a specially designed questionnaire (Strong souls). Little is known about this age group because they are relatively healthy and do not present to clinics for treatment. The continuing life course study of this cohort, forming the oldest and largest birth cohort of any indigenous population in the world, will help us understand the relationships between early life and the sequential events that lead to chronic adult disease. This will help determine the most effective time for intervention programmes, and will influence public health planning and policy directed towards the improvement of the health of Aboriginal peoples.Read moreRead less
Analysis Of Perinatal Influences On Aboriginal Child Health And Potential Markers Of Chronic Adult Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$151,130.00
Summary
Aboriginal babies in the Northern Territory have a low birth rate about twice that for non-Aboriginal Australians. Most of these babies are small because of poor intrauterine growth. At the same time Aboriginal children have high rates of infectious diseases and malnutrition and adults have high rates of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, renal and chronic lung diseases with a life expectancy 20 years lower than non-Aboriginal Australians. An Aboriginal birth cohort of 686 with detailed ....Aboriginal babies in the Northern Territory have a low birth rate about twice that for non-Aboriginal Australians. Most of these babies are small because of poor intrauterine growth. At the same time Aboriginal children have high rates of infectious diseases and malnutrition and adults have high rates of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, renal and chronic lung diseases with a life expectancy 20 years lower than non-Aboriginal Australians. An Aboriginal birth cohort of 686 with detailed information on maternal medical and obstetric health and birth size and gestation as well as childhood growth has been reexamined in detail at 10 -12 years of age. Information about current nutrition, health and social environment has been collected. Analysis linking all this information will contribute to an understanding of the factors which predict illness in childhood and influence the development of chronic respiratory, renal, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in Aboriginal adults. The findings will have important implications for the prevention and early intervention of the excess childhood and adult illnesses in the Aboriginal community.Read moreRead less
Stress During Pregnancy And The Developmental Origins Of Renal Disease In Aboriginal Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$866,044.00
Summary
There is an epidemic of renal failure in Aboriginal people who also have high rates of premature birth of small babies. This project aims to understand the causes of kidney failure in Aboriginal people through testing if stress during pregnancy leads to the birth of preterm, small babies with small poorly formed kidneys that lead to kidney failure in later life. The effect of stressors impacting on pregnant women including infections, exposure to smoking and social stressors will be examined.
This research investigates the factors regulating the transition of the lung from the fluid filled organ in fetal life to the air filled organ required at birth. Many preterm babies fail this transition and in order to survive, their lungs often require mechanical ventilation, which has been suggested to cause lung injury. Using synchrotron generated X-rays, we can determine how particular resuscitation techniques are able to reduce this injury and promote aeration at birth.
Understanding The Biology Of Pregnancy To Prevent Morbidity And Mortality
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$422,746.00
Summary
Progress in the care of the unborn baby, and thus optimisation of life-long health, will only come with a greater understanding of the fundamental processes that underlie pregnancy. My research is aimed at saving babies lives and reducing the long-term burdens (health, emotional and economic) of major perinatal conditions. I am uniquely placed to carry out this research, using the research tools I have developed to deliver real outcomes that will change clinical practice
Protecting Newborn Brains Via Innovative Monitoring Technology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$394,460.00
Summary
This project aims to develop innovative brain monitoring technology which could help minimise brain damage in newborn babies with brain injuries, thereby delivering a healthier start to life. Such novel technology may automatically analyse babies’ brain activity and deliver instant detection of critical abnormalities, which could enable more effective treatment of brain injuries. Babies with reduced oxygen or blood supply to the brain and premature babies could benefit from such innovations.
Preterm birth, a birth before the 37th week of pregnancy occurs for fewer than 8% of mothers but is associated with two-thirds of all fetal deaths and deaths of liveborn infants in the first month after birth. In the late 1990s those deaths are concentrated among very preterm births i.e. births before the 32nd week of pregnancy. Infants born very preterm are very likely to need neonatal intensive care, quite likely to have had major respiratory, infectious or other problems after birth, and to n ....Preterm birth, a birth before the 37th week of pregnancy occurs for fewer than 8% of mothers but is associated with two-thirds of all fetal deaths and deaths of liveborn infants in the first month after birth. In the late 1990s those deaths are concentrated among very preterm births i.e. births before the 32nd week of pregnancy. Infants born very preterm are very likely to need neonatal intensive care, quite likely to have had major respiratory, infectious or other problems after birth, and to need readmission to hospital in the first year after birth. Surviving infants are more likely to have major impairments, minor impairments, and school difficulties than infants born at term. There is a substantial impact on families, health services and society of very preterm birth.There has been no reduction in the proportion of births which are preterm, or very preterm in the last 20 years, though advances in treatment and care have markedly improved the survival of preterm and very preterm infants. This study will investigate the role of previous pregnancies which did not result in births (miscarriages and terminations), together with other procedures such as D and C (dilatation and curettage), in subsequent preterm birth. As these previous pregnancy losses are all fairly common experiences any associated risk is important and this particular factor has not been studied in this way before. There is preliminary evidence that they may be associated with preterm birth and the study will be able to measure the associations while taking into account all the other known risk factors. Other possible risk factors such as experiencing violence in pregnancy or social factors acting at a neighbourhood level will also be included. If it is found that previous pregnancy losses are independently associated with preterm birth it will be possible to develop and test preventive strategies.Read moreRead less