Search the site

Research

Charting developmental trajectories from 12 to 36 months and associated early risk and protective factors

To investigate developmental trajectories in early childhood and predictors of class assignment.

Research

Establishing a national platform for the provision of evidence based practice in Prader-Willi syndrome

Helen Jenny Leonard Downs MBChB MPH BApplSci (physio) MSc PhD Principal Research Fellow Head, Child Disability +61 419 956 946 08 6319 1763

Research

Multi-site validation of a suite of clinical outcome measures for clinical trial readiness in the CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder

Helen Jenny Peter Leonard Downs Jacoby MBChB MPH BApplSci (physio) MSc PhD BA (Hons) MSc Principal Research Fellow Head, Child Disability

Research

Risk of Developmental Disorders in Children of Immigrant Mothers: A Population-Based Data Linkage Evaluation

Increased risk of autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability and cerebral palsy with intellectual disability for mothers of some foreign-born groups

Research

The Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in Children of Immigrant and Refugee Parents: Current Knowledge and Directions for Future Research

We investigated the literature from 2002 to 2016 describing the risk of ASD, intellectual disability and ADHD in children of refugee and immigrant backgrounds.

Research

Seizure variables and their relationship to genotype and functional abilities in the CDKL5 disorder

Epilepsy is pervasive but not mandatory for the CDKL5 disorder, and genotype and functional abilities were related to seizure frequency

Research

Associations Between Hyperphagia, Symptoms of Sleep Breathing Disorder, Behaviour Difficulties and Caregiver Well-Being in Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Preliminary Study

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder characterised by neurodevelopmental delays, hyperphagia, difficulties with social communication and challenging behaviours. Individuals require intensive supervision from caregivers which may negatively affect caregiver quality of life. This study used data collected in the Australasian PWS Registry to evaluate associations between child behaviours and caregiver mental well-being.

Research

How Families Manage the Complex Medical Needs of Their Children with MECP2 Duplication Syndrome

MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS) is a rare, X-linked, neurodevelopmental disorder resulting from the duplication of the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene. The clinical features of MDS include severe intellectual disability, global developmental delay, seizures, recurrent respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal problems. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how the parents of children with MDS manage their child's seizures, recurrent respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal symptoms, and the impact on them as parents.

Research

Relationship between family quality of life and day occupations of young people with Down syndrome

This study aimed to explore relationships between family quality of life, day occupations and activities of daily living of young persons with Down syndrome.

Parental origin of mutations

We hypothesised that MECP2 mutations occur predominantly on the male derived X chromosome.