Skip to content
The Kids Research Institute Australia logo
Donate

No results yet

Search

Research

Co-occurring Neurodevelopmental Conditions in Children: Advocating for Transdiagnostic Approach to Assessments

Approximately 8% of all children experience developmental and mental health conditions. Similarities in characteristics across neurodevelopmental conditions-such as difficulties in communication and language, social interaction, motor coordination, attention, activity regulation, behavior, mood, and sleep-make it challenging to attribute these characteristics exclusively to specific diagnoses and assessments. The purpose of this study was to identify symptomatic domains across neurodevelopmental conditions in children and to explore dimension reduction for transdiagnostic assessment. 

Research

A modular approach to forecasting COVID-19 hospital bed occupancy

Monitoring the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital beds was a critical component of Australia's real-time surveillance strategy for the disease. From 2021 to 2023, we produced short-term forecasts of bed occupancy to support public health decision-making. 

Research

The mitophagy receptors BNIP3 and NIX mediate tight attachment and expansion of the isolation membrane to mitochondria

BNIP3 and NIX are the main receptors for mitophagy, but their mechanisms of action remain elusive. Here, we used correlative light EM (CLEM) and electron tomography to reveal the tight attachment of isolation membranes (IMs) to mitochondrial protrusions, often connected with ER via thin tubular and/or linear structures.

Research

Rewiring endogenous genes in CAR T cells for tumour-restricted payload delivery

The efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in solid tumours is limited by immunosuppression and antigen heterogeneity. To overcome these barriers, 'armoured' CAR T cells, which secrete proinflammatory cytokines, have been developed. However, their clinical application has been limited because of toxicity related to peripheral expression of the armouring transgene. 

Research

Intellectual Disability

About 2 per cent of children are estimated to have an intellectual disability. The cause of the condition is unknown in at least 50 per cent of cases.

Research

Rett Syndrome

A severe neurodevelopmental disorder mostly affecting girls.

Research

Understanding Disclosure Decisions in Parents of Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Parents of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often make disclosure decisions about their child's ADHD on their behalf. While disclosure can facilitate access to support, it risks stigma. Despite ADHD being one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions, little is known about parent's experiences in relating information about their child's ADHD diagnosis or medication use, to others.

Research

Predicting Problem Gambling in Young Men: The Impact of Sports Gambling Frequency and Internalizing Symptoms

Young men aged 18-25 years are at disproportionately increased risk for gambling problems compared to their older or female counterparts. The unique mechanisms that precipitate these problems in this group remain unclear. Data from the largest longitudinal cohort study on Australian men's health (the Ten to Men Study) were used to identify the psychosocial, health-related, and gambling-related behavioral predictors of problem gambling severity in 265 young men aged 18-25 years. Hierarchical multiple ordinal logistic regression analyses found these predictors to explain a moderate proportion of variance in problem gambling severity. 

Research

Physiological responses to exercise in survivors of preterm birth: a meta-analysis

Survivors of preterm birth (<37 weeks' gestation) have low peak oxygen uptake, a global measure of aerobic fitness and an established predictor of increased morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about other cardiopulmonary outcome measures in this population. We addressed the hypothesis that preterm birth is associated with abnormal respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic responses to exercise, as assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing, via a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Research

Determining the Mental Wellbeing of Family Day Care Educators in Australia

Family Day Care (FDC) is an essential service supporting Australian families requiring convenient, versatile, and quality education and care for their children. FDC educators’ mental wellbeing (MWB), often overlooked, is vital to ensure optimal education and care. This study aimed to gauge Australian FDC educators’ MWB and identify factors positively or negatively affecting MWB.