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Four The Kids Research Institute Australia researchers have received prestigious fellowships and four significant cohort studies led or co-led by The Kids have received key grants under two new funding programs supported by the State Government’s Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund.

The BioMood project will study how following a Mediterranean diet during pregnancy affects the gut microbiome, metabolism, and inflammation, with the expectation that it will promote a healthier microbiome and better mental health.

Mental health and wellness is critical to the overall wellbeing of a person, and can also impact on physical health. Researchers are exploring the mental wellbeing of mothers and their experience of motherhood and pregnancy, and effective support options available. Mental health development of the child is also explored, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our ORIGINS families.

News & Events

Four The Kids Research Institute Australia-based biobanks which underpin a range of cancer, respiratory and early life research have received more than $450,000 in funding.

This study is investigating whether a machine learning based approach can be used to improve fetal brain anatomy measurement for learning development studies.

An experimental study linked to the Mums Minds Matter project, which aims to determine if pregnant women's willingness to engage in online wellbeing programs varies across types.

Research

Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common nutritional deficiency affecting young children. Serum ferritin concentration is the preferred biomarker for measuring iron status because it reflects iron stores; however, blood collection can be distressing for young children and can be logistically difficult. A noninvasive means to measure iron status would be attractive to either diagnose or screen for ID in young children.

This project aims to examine whether maternal probiotic supplementation promotes an enhanced immunomodulatory breastmilk composition likely to promote infant oral tolerance, and reduce food allergy in breastfed children.

Research

Global food systems are a central issue for personal and planetary health in the Anthropocene. One aspect of major concern is the dramatic global spread of ultra-processed convenience foods in the last 75 years, which is linked with the rising human burden of disease and growing sustainability and environmental health challenges.

Research

A significant number of babies present transiently with low protein kinase C zeta (PKCζ) levels in cord blood T cells, associated with reduced ability to transition from a neonatal Th2 to a mature Th1 cytokine bias, leading to a higher risk of developing allergic sensitisation, compared to neonates whose T cells have 'normal' PKCζ levels. However, the importance of PKCζ signalling in regulating their differentiation from a Th2 to a Th1 cytokine phenotype propensity remains undefined.