Paediatric researcher recognised with prestigious award

Dr Jonathan Kaufman – Western Health paediatrician and University of Melbourne/Murdoch Children’s Research Institute researcher – has been awarded a prestigious grant for his ongoing research into effective diagnosis for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children.

Dr Kaufman was one of four early career researchers to receive a $85,000 one-year Clinical Investigator Award from the Viertel Charitable Foundation.

UTIs are very common in young children, but hard to diagnose, and easily missed. If untreated, UTIs can cause serious infection and permanent kidney scarring.

A urine sample is essential for diagnosis but collecting a sample can be very difficult. Dr Kaufman’s previous research has changed practice internationally for how clinicians collect these samples, with a quick, simple and non-invasive collection method. This ongoing research will include a further randomised trial to determine the best way to collect a urine sample, continuing to improve care for children with this common condition.