Understanding And Improving Treatment Of Premature Infants To Improve Long Term Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$638,517.00
Summary
The last 2 decades heralded many important advances in the care of preterm infants but important gaps in our knowledge remain. Studies undertaken in the preclinical and clinical settings during this Fellowship will enhance understanding of the complex nature of disease in preterm infants. Further, we will develop and evaluate new treatments that enhance growth and development of the premature baby to optimise their long term intellectual, physical, emotional and social outcomes.
Targeted Therapeutic Mild Hypercapnia After Resuscitated Cardiac Arrest: A Phase III Multi-Centre Randomised Controlled Trial (The TAME Cardiac Arrest Trial)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,069,878.00
Summary
The TAME Cardiac Arrest trial will study the ability of higher carbon dioxide (CO2) levels to reduce brain damage, comparing giving patients ‘normal’ to ‘slightly higher than normal’ blood CO2 levels and assessing their ability to return to normal life-tasks. It will be the largest trial ever conducted in heart attack patients in the ICU. This therapy is cost free and, if shown to be effective, will improve thousands of Australian lives, transform clinical practice, and yield major savings.
Towards An Improved Understanding Of The Effect Of A Speaking Valve On Lung Volumes And Communication In The Critically Ill Tracheostomised Patient
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$45,795.00
Summary
Patients that require life support in intensive care often have breathing tubes in their neck. This means they are generally left without a voice for days, weeks, even months. Speaking valves meant for talking are not used much due to fears of harm to the lungs. Our study is looking at how much air is in the lungs when using this valve. Data so far suggest that the valve is in fact helping the lungs. The outcomes of this study may lead to most of these critically ill patients having a voice.
Nasal Highflow For Paediatric Acute Hypoxic Respiratory Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,627,819.00
Summary
The burden of respiratory disease in children requiring intensive care admission is increasing despite better quality care in hospitals. This study investigates a new method, called nasal high flow, to support the breathing of children, that can be provided in regular children's wards in regional and metropolitan hospitals. The study anticipates to demonstrate that early intervention with nasal high flow reduces the need for intensive care admission.
Regional Mechanisms Of Ventilator Induced Lung Injury: Insights From Dynamic Lung Imaging
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$623,323.00
Summary
Mortality rates due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are high (>30%). While ARDS requires mechanical ventilation as a lifesaving intervention, it is clear that mechanical ventilation itself can contribute to the high mortality rates. We will use a new lung imaging technology (CTXV) to visualize the damage that occurs to the lung as a result of mechanical ventilation in order to design better ventilation strategies and reduce mortality rates in these critically ill patients.
Optimising Respiratory Care Of The Preterm Infant Using Regional Volumetric Strategies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$282,086.00
Summary
Preterm birth is defined by the fragile under-developed lung needing to engage in air-breathing. Most preterm babies need respiratory support, but used inappropriately these life-saving therapies can increase the risk of long-term lung injury. This Fellowship will support a program designed to generate clinically meaningful outcomes through molecular, translational and clinical studies founded on strong physiological and biological principles and innovative research techniques.
Lung, Heart And Respiratory Muscle Disease After Preterm Birth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,328,858.00
Summary
Breathing problems persisting into infancy and later life is an important complication of premature birth with lifelong consequences. Breathing problems often occur together with lung disease, but prematurity can also affect heart and blood vessel development, and weakness of the main breathing muscle (the diaphragm). We will find out how much the heart and diaphragm contribute to breathing problems in babies, and will help us to better predict, diagnose and treat severe breathing problems.
Optimising Lung Protective Ventilation At Birth Using The Volumetric Response Of The Lung In A Preterm Lamb Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$611,021.00
Summary
Prematurity is a common problem which constitutes a major health-care burden. The preterm lung often cannot function independently at birth but is very fragile and susceptible to damage from the very first breathes of life. Life-saving mechanical ventilatory support must protect the lung from injury as well aid lung function. This project aims to improve ventilation strategies for supporting and protecting the preterm lung using novel approaches and innovative technologies.
Separating The Adverse Neurodevelopmental Consequences Of Mechanical Ventilation And Postnatal Steroids In Preterm Lambs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,752,863.00
Summary
Extremely premature infants often develop severe breathing difficulties and need the help of a machine to breathe. Certain steroids help to mature the lung and allow the baby to breathe on his own without help. However, both steroids and long periods on breathing machines may interfere with normal brain development. This study will help doctors to weigh up the long-term risks and benefits of giving a baby steroids to help them breathe on their own versus continuing mechanical ventilation without ....Extremely premature infants often develop severe breathing difficulties and need the help of a machine to breathe. Certain steroids help to mature the lung and allow the baby to breathe on his own without help. However, both steroids and long periods on breathing machines may interfere with normal brain development. This study will help doctors to weigh up the long-term risks and benefits of giving a baby steroids to help them breathe on their own versus continuing mechanical ventilation without steroids.Read moreRead less