Can Pentoxifylline Improve Long-term Outcomes In Preterm Infants With Late-onset Sepsis Or Necrotizing Enterocolitis – A Pragmatic, Randomized, Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,901,130.00
Summary
Very preterm infants are at high risk of death and disability. Brain injury is often the result of inflammation caused by infection or bowel disease. To date, there is no treatment to reduce the harmful effects of inflammation. Pentoxifylline reduces inflammation and is a promising, safe and inexpensive treatment option for preterm infants. This study will determine whether Pentoxifylline in addition to antibiotics improves survival without disability in preterm infants.
Does Placental Transfusion Prevent Death And Disability In Very Preterm Infants? Childhood Follow Up In The NHMRC Australian Placental Transfusion Study.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$889,406.00
Summary
A million babies are born before 30 weeks gestation worldwide each year. Many die or face a lifetime of disability. Enhancing placental transfusion in these infants by deferred clamping of the umbilical cord (DCC) is a simple procedure that may reduce mortality and major disability in childhood. The Australian Placental Transfusion Study (APTS), the largest ever RCT of deferred clamping, will follow up 1200 children born preterm to evaluate if DCC has childhood benefits at 2 years age.
We are an international team committed to clinical trials to improve survival without disability in newborn babies. We plan a randomised trial to confirm if bovine lactoferrin, an inexpensive dairy protein, reduces death or major morbidity and increases total breast milk intake in 1,500 very low birthweight babies in neonatal intensive care units
The Burden Of Late Preterm Birth On Brain Development And 2 Year Outcomes – A Prospective, Longitudinal Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$838,690.00
Summary
80% of preterm babies are born from 32-36 weeks’ gestation, and are late preterm (LPT). LPT children have more learning problems, but why this occurs is unknown. This study aims to understand the effect of LPT birth on brain development. We will do brain scans at term and assess development at 2 years of age of 200 LPT and 200 full-term children. We expect LPT babies will have subtle alterations in brain development compared with term controls which will be associated with delayed development.
Does Gastrostomy Improve The Lives Of Children With Severe Disability And Their Families?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,101.00
Summary
Around 750 Australian children are born each year with severe intellectual disability. Problems may include feeding difficulties and frequent hospitalisations. Feeding via a gastrostomy tube into the stomach can be used. We will conduct a data linkage study in NSW and WA, and collect additional data in WA to investigate patterns of gastrostomy use and its safety, effectiveness and costs. Our findings will help the management of poor feeding in intellectual disability.
A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Effects Of Early Life Exposure To General Anaesthesia On Neurobehavioural Outcomes In Children With Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$587,240.00
Summary
Anaesthesia permits surgeries and other interventional procedures that benefit the health of children to be performed painlessly and non-traumatically. This study will provide critical information about whether the drugs used commonly for general anaesthesia represents a risk to very young children in terms of their neurobehavioural development.
The Effect Of Probiotics On The Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Of Preterm Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,068,804.00
Summary
Premature infants are at increased risk of abnormal development, meaning problems with their ability to walk, talk, think, hear and see. Giving premature babies ‘good bacteria’ (probiotics) may help them survive, but little is known about how probiotics affect long-term development. This is the first large study to assess the development of children who were involved in a trial of probiotics following their premature birth.
Multi-centre, Multi-disciplinary Study Using A Systems Biology Approach To Investigate Immunomodulation In Children With Acute Wheeze
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,895,107.00
Summary
The concept that immunomodulation using naturally-occurring bacterial agents can treat asthma has reached international prominence. This is backed by strong epidemiologic and clinical trial data. However, detailed knowledge of the immunological mechanisms involved is essential to allow more focused therapeutic agents to be developed. The proposed multi-disciplinary immunomodulation study in 200 children aims to provide this essential information using an advanced systems biology approach.
Should Very Premature Babies Receive A Placental Transfusion At Birth? A Randomised Controlled Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,875,774.00
Summary
Premature babies under 30 weeks gestation are up to a hundred times more likely than full term babies to die or survive with major disability, often from brain damage due to poor blood flow after birth. This randomised study will find out if giving them more placental blood at birth, by means of a delay in clamping the umbilical cord, then milking it, reduces anemia, blood transfusions, brain damage, infection, death and disability. The results may benefit millions of premature babies worldwide.