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Research

Since its inception in 2005, the US President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) has played a major role in the reductions in malaria morbidity and mortality observed across Africa. With the status of PMI funding and operations currently uncertain, we aimed to quantify the impact that a fully functioning PMI would have on malaria cases and deaths in Africa during 2025. 

Ten years of dedicated research investigating the Meningococcal ACWY vaccine paid off 20 times over in 2019, after its inclusion on the National Immunisation Program saw a significant decrease in children being diagnosed with the deadly disease.

Research

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) cover a range of methods used to help couples with fertility problems achieve pregnancy, including in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Despite major advances in science in recent years, many Australians still don't understand the magnitude and importance of early years development to a child's life journey.

World-first findings from the collaborative REACT study – a joint project between The Kids, PCH, UWA and Curtin University – have led to the asthma medication Ventolin being routinely given to paediatric patients before tonsillectomy surgery to prevent respiratory complications.

Discover more about some of the broad topics and areas of research that The Kids Research Institute Australia are involved in.

Research

Many young people are exposed to risk factors that increase their risk of mental illness. Physical activity provision is an increasingly popular approach to protect against mental illness in the face of these risk factors. We examined the effectiveness of physical activity interventions for the promotion of mental health outcomes in at-risk children and adolescents.

Research

Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection is traditionally treated with at least 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics in adults, 3-7 days in children, and often longer for those with complicated disease. The current practice of treating S. aureus bacteremia with prolonged IV antibiotics (rather than oral antibiotics) is based on historical observational research and expert opinion. Prolonged IV antibiotic therapy has significant disadvantages for patients and healthcare systems, and there is growing interest in whether a switch to oral antibiotics following an initial period of IV therapy is a safe alternative for clinically stable patients.

Research

Mothers with asthma or atopy have a higher likelihood of having autistic children, with maternal immune activation in pregnancy implicated as a mechanism. This study aimed to determine, in a prospective cohort of mothers with asthma and their infants, whether inflammatory gene expression in pregnancy is associated with likelihood of future autism. 

Research

Australia commenced administration of the Spikevax (Moderna mRNA-1273) COVID-19 vaccine in August 2021 and Nuvaxovid (Novavax NVX-CoV2373) in January 2022. This study describes the short-term safety profile of priming doses of the Spikevax and Nuvaxovid vaccines given between September 2021 and September 2023.