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Research

Evidence suggests that intramuscular vitamin A reduces the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. Our objective was to compare enteral water-soluble vitamin A with placebo supplementation to reduce the severity of BPD in extremely preterm infants.

Research

This prospective longitudinal study examined changes in milk sodium concentration (Na) and sodium:potassium ratio (Na:K), microbiological culture, milk production, and breast health in relation to mastitis after preterm birth.

Research

Despite the wide use of parenteral nutrition (PN) in neonatal intensive care units (NICU), there is limited evidence regarding the optimal time to commence PN in term and late preterm infants.

Research

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a component of neural tissue. Because its accretion into the brain is greatest during the final trimester of pregnancy, infants born before 29 weeks' gestation do not receive the normal supply of DHA. The effect of this deficiency on subsequent cognitive development is not well understood.

Research

Late-onset sepsis (LOS) with Staphylococcus epidermidis is common in preterm infants, but the immunological mechanisms underlying heightened susceptibility are poorly understood. Our aim is to characterize the ontogeny of cytokine responses to live S. epidermidis in preterm infants with and without subsequent Gram-positive LOS.

Research

Very preterm infants have a marked innate inflammatory response at the time of late-onset sepsis

Research

Extremely preterm infant survival has significantly improved with advanced neonatal care; however outcomes of infants born with birth weight ≤500 g remain poor. We aimed to review outcomes of this cohort in our Institution.

Research

Composition of leukocyte populations in the first month of life remains incompletely characterised, particularly in preterm infants who go on to develop late-onset sepsis (LOS). The aim of the study was to characterise and compare leukocyte populations in preterm infants with and without LOS during the first month of life.

Research

Maternal milk feeding may have unique long-term neurodevelopmental benefits in very preterm infants. We examine the extent to which maternal milk feeding after very preterm birth is associated with cognitive, academic, and behavioral outcomes at school age.

Research

Recent studies in very premature infants (<32 weeks gestation) have shown that early commencement of parenteral nutrition immediately after birth improves physical growth. However, there are concerns that early use of very high dose of amino-acids (>3.5 g/kg/day immediately after birth) may cause metabolic acidosis, elevated blood urea, slower head growth and refeeding-hypophosphatemia syndrome. A recent multicentre randomized controlled trial found that commencement of parenteral nutrition within 24-h of admission increases the risk of infections and prolongs the duration of ventilation and ICU stay in full-term neonates, older infants and children. The study also found that delaying to day 8 of admission increased the risk of hypoglycaemia.

Perth researchers discovered a naturally occurring virus living in the city’s waterways that could potentially fight antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

News & Events

Four outstanding The Kids Research Institute Australia researchers, including Institute Director, Professor Jonathan Carapetis AM, have been named finalists in the 2021 Western Australian of the Year Awards.

News & Events

Congratulations to The Kids Research Institute Australia Director Professor Jonathan Carapetis AM, who last night won the Professions Award at the 2021 Western Australian of the Year Awards.

News & Events

Four The Kids Research Institute Australia researchers – working across diverse fields including paediatric anaesthesia, bioinformatics, ear health, and the health impacts of biodiesel exhaust – have been named as finalists in the 2021 Premier’s Science Awards.

News & Events

Three outstanding researchers have won 2023 Premier’s Science Awards, with another inducted into the prestigious WA Science Hall of Fame.

Researchers from The Kids Research Institute Australia who are working to better understand the serious threat climate change poses to children’s health have led a study revealing the dramatically heightened risk of preterm births as the world gets hotter.

News & Events

Promising results from an Australian-led clinical trial could drastically change the way we care for young children with cystic fibrosis (CF).

News & Events

Two The Kids Research Institute Australia researchers and two significant The Kids-led initiatives aimed at improving the mental health of young people

News & Events

A new study has found children with disabilities are 3 times more likely to be maltreated compared to other children but that risk varies by type of disability.

News & Events

A The Kids Research Institute Australia researcher will investigate new ways to harness the body’s own immune system to fight melanoma, thanks to Cancer Council WA funding.