Fetal and Neonatal Health: Respiratory and Cardiovascular Transition to Life After Birth Suitability: Honours/PhD/BMedSc (Hons) Location: The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research; Level 5, Translational Research Facility, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton Project Leaders: Prof Stuart Hooper, Dr Kelly Crossley Email: Kelly.crossley@hudson.org.au Project description: The transition to life after birth is one of the greatest physiological challenges that humans face. At birth, the airways are cleared of liquid, to allow the entry of air, which increases pulmonary blood flow and closes vascular shunts that by-pass the lungs during fetal life. Most infants smoothly make this transition, but many don’t which can be life threatening and cause life-long problems. The aim of this project is to study the changes that occur at birth and to identify factors that both facilitate and impede these changes to reduce the risks that newborn infants face.
Project Leaders: A/Prof Megan Wallace, Prof Tim Cole Email: megan.wallace@monash.edu Projects description: Women who are at risk of delivering a preterm baby are given antenatal glucocorticoids to mature the lungs of the fetus before birth. However, this life-saving therapy can also impair the development of the brain and other organs After birth, glucocorticoids are also used as anti-inflammatory agents to help wean preterm babies off ventilatory support, with similar adverse effects on the brain and other organs. This project will trial exciting new steroids in animal models of preterm birth to determine if they mature fetal lungs and reduce postnatal lung inflammation without adverse impacts on other organs. Keywords: preterm birth, preterm babies, glucocorticoids, corticosteroids, respiratory distress, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, ventilation, brain injury
Keywords: fetal to neonatal transition, pulmonary blood flow, lungs, breathing,
Imaging the Entry of Air into The Lungs at Birth Suitability: Honours/PhD/BMedSc (Hons) Location: The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research; Level 5, Translational Research Facility, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton Project Leaders: Prof Stuart Hooper, Dr Kelly Crossley Email: Kelly.crossley@hudson.org.au Project description: The transition to air-breathing at birth is dependent upon airway liquid clearance which allows gas exchange to commence. This occurs smoothly in most infants, but preterm infants have difficulty in clearing their lungs of liquid. Using a synchrotron, we can image the entry of air into the lungs at birth and the simultaneous changes in blood flow to the lungs. The aim of this project is to identify factors that promote air entry into the lungs and the increase in pulmonary blood flow at birth in premature animals. Keywords: birth, newborn, lung aeration
Trialling novel glucocorticoids to reduce lung disease in preterm birth Suitability: Honours/PhD/BMedSc (Hons) Location: The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research; Level 5, Translational Research Facility, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton The Ritchie Centre | Student Research Projects 2023
Improving breathing of preterm newborns exposed to inflammation during pregnancy Suitability: Honours/PhD Location: The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research; Level 5, Translational Research Facility, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton Project Leaders: Prof Graeme Polglase Email: graeme.polglase@monash.edu Phone: 03 8572 2822 (Prof Polglase) Project description: Preterm babies exposed to inflammation during pregnancy have a high incidence of breathing difficulties and brain injury, which often lead to cerebral palsy. Many of these babies will require invasive respiratory support at birth, and whilst this is lifesaving, it can exacerbate the already ongoing inflammation, and worsen brain injury. Our current research focuses on how intrauterine infection and inflammation (chorioamnionitis) affects the neural control of respiration, and whether antiinflammatory treatments can protect these nerves and improve fetal and neonatal breathing. This project involves work with small and large animal models, fetal/neonatal physiology, protein and 15
