Skip to content
The Kids Research Institute Australia logo
Donate

No results yet

Search

Research

A conceptual framework for comprehensive rheumatic heart disease control programs

The World Health Organization, World Heart Federation, and other organizations recommend comprehensive control programs for rheumatic fever (RF) and...

Research

Continued challenge of rheumatic heart disease: The gap of understanding or the gap of implementation?

We still do not have a RF vaccine, although the recent announcement that the Australian and New Zealand governments are jointly sponsoring a program to fast...

News & Events

Major grants fuel child health research

Six researchers from The Kids Research Institute Australia have been awarded $8.9 million in prestigious Investigator Grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

News & Events

International collaboration awarded $US8 million to design world-first diagnostic tool for acute rheumatic fever

Researchers from The Kids Research Institute Australia are joining forces with international experts in acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) to transform the diagnosis of these diseases thanks to an $US8 million grant from the Leducq Foundation.

News & Events

Endgame for deadly heart disease will save hundreds of lives

Rheumatic heart disease, a deadly yet entirely preventable heart disease taking the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, is finally on the verge of elimination thanks to new research

News & Events

Carol's story: losing a parent to RHD

After being diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease at ten, Elizabeth had to leave country and her family for a large chunk of her childhood so she could be treated in Adelaide.

News & Events

Call for Group A streptococcal infections to become notifiable diseases

Researchers at The Kids Research Institute Australia say Group A Streptococcus should become a nationally notifiable disease in Australia.

Research

Outcomes of latent rheumatic heart disease: External validation of a simplified score in patients with and without secondary prophylaxis

Secondary antibiotic prophylaxis reduces progression of latent rheumatic heart disease (RHD) but not all children benefit. Improved risk stratification could refine recommendations following positive screening. We aimed to evaluate the performance of a previously developed echocardiographic risk score to predict mid-term outcomes among children with latent RHD. 

Research

Development of a sustained release implant of benzathine penicillin G for secondary prophylaxis of rheumatic heart disease

Regular intramuscular (i.m.) benzathine penicillin G (BPG) injections have been the cornerstone of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) secondary prophylaxis since the 1950s. Patient adherence to IM BPG is poor, largely due to pain, the need for regular injections every 3-4 weeks and health sector delivery challenges in resource-limited settings. There is an urgent need for new approaches for secondary prophylaxis, such as an implant which could provide sustained penicillin concentrations for more than 6 months.

Research

Left ventricular remodelling in rheumatic heart disease – trends over time and implications for follow-up in childhood

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most common form of acquired heart disease worldwide. In RHD, volume loading from mitral regurgitation leads to left ventricular (LV) dilatation, increased wall stress, and ultimately LV dysfunction. Improved understanding of LV dynamics may contribute to refined timing of intervention.