Newborn vaccine set to save lives

GenV lifts off

This generation faces increasing rates of complex health and development problems. To help transform the health of our newest Victorians, and generations to come, we are asking parents of newborns to choose to share their information with us to give us an inclusive and precise understanding of health and wellbeing across Victoria. This year saw the first babies recruited into GenV – a sophisticated research project, funded by the Paul Ramsay Foundation and the Victorian Government, with a simple goal: a better approach to child health, development and wellbeing.

New application of GenV

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) testing as part of GenV

Teddy, 3, was born profoundly deaf and with cerebral palsy. “If his cCMV diagnosis wasn’t picked up so quickly, he would be further behind in his gross motor skills,” Teddy’s mum, Victoria, said. “Having the awareness early meant we received support quickly and our specialists have been on top of everything.” Associate Professor Valerie Sung will work with GenV families to find out just how common cCMV is among Victorian newborns and the long-term outcomes for babies. The results should help determine whether universal newborn cCMV screening is warranted and support the development of a rapid same-day test that could lead to early treatment.

Prizes and awards

Murdoch Children’s researchers were again recognised with multiple state, national and international awards in 2021. The Institute is proud to attract and foster talented medical researchers who are relentless in their pursuit of making a difference for children, young people, families and communities.

Melissa Little

Homer W. Smith Award from the American Society of Nephrology for outstanding contributions that fundamentally affect the science of kidney health.

Suzi Carp

Queen’s Birthday AO for distinguished service to health and medical research, to children and young people, and to the community through leadership roles.

Sebastian Lunke and Zornitza Stark

Innovation Award (Research Translation and MedTech & BioTechnology) from Innovation Australia for their work in the Acute Care Genomics project.

George Patton

Elected to the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Fellowship for his extensive child and adolescent mental health research in Australia and global adolescent health work.

Julie Bines

Australian Museum Eureka Prize for leading the development of RV3-BB, a vaccine that can prevent rotavirus gastroenteritis from birth. Elected to the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Fellowship for her work on the RV3-BB vaccine, which has the potential to save children’s lives around the world.

Jonathan Kaufman

University of Melbourne Chancellor’s Prize for Excellence in PhD Thesis for his research on diagnostic processes for young children with urinary tract infections.

Margie Danchin

BioMelbourne Network Women in Leadership Awards (Directors Award for leadership) for her work across the health sector during the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

Sarah Stephenson

Young Tall Poppy Science Award for her work on childhood epilepsy. OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Model (Involve network) for her contributions to LGBT+ inclusion inside and outside the workplace, professional achievements in improving children’s health and the influence of her role at MCRI.

Igor Konstantinov

Queen’s Birthday OAM for service to medicine as a cardiothoracic surgeon.

Jane Halliday

Queen’s Birthday AM for her research measuring the impact of potentially harmful prenatal exposures on the health and wellbeing of infants, children and young adults.

Harriet Hiscock

Elected to the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Fellowship for her work integrating health, social and education services to improve health and wellbeing for children.

George and Joan Lefroy

Queen’s Birthday AM for significant service to the community through philanthropic support initiatives.

Amanda Fosang

Queen’s Birthday AM for significant service to medical research in the field of arthritis, and significant service to international societies.

Yara-Natalie Abo

National Heart Foundation PhD Scholarship for her research, which aims to advance Strep A vaccine research and prevent heart disease. National Heart Foundation Excellence Award for the top-ranking PhD project submitted to the scholarship.