NHMRC Investigator Grants
Pictured Dr Anthea Lindquist, Dr Kate Hodgson & Dr Teresa MacDonald.
We are so proud to announce the NHMRC Investigator Grants recipients from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Newborn Health are Dr Anthea Lindquist, Dr Kate Hodgson & Dr Teresa MacDonald.
The NHMRC received 1509 applications for the 2023 Investigator Grants and only 216 grants were awarded. All three researchers were awarded under the Emerging Leadership 1 (EL1) Category.
Dr Anthea Lindquist was awarded the grant for the project "Using big data and novel methods to inform clinical decision making in obstetrics". Most perinatal research focusses on short-term maternal and neonatal outcomes. As a result, little is known about the long-term implications, for mothers and children, of exposure to different events or treatments during pregnancy. We propose linking large population-wide datasets together to examine the health and wellbeing of mothers and their babies from conception, through to pregnancy and right through into a child's school years.
Dr Kate Hodgson was awarded the grant for the project "Improving respiratory outcomes for preterm infants". Babies born early (preterm) often need support to breathe and are at risk of long-term health problems with their lungs. The treatments that we provide to help preterm babies’ breathing soon after birth are life-saving. It is important to improve care for preterm babies during this critical period, to maximise their chances of a healthy, productive life. My research looks at ways to improve the procedures and medicines used for babies born early.
Dr Teresa MacDonald was awarded the grant for the project "Checkpoints of placental health during pregnancy to minimise stillbirth risk". Most cases of stillbirth occur because the placenta- the baby’s life support system- is not working well. If we detect unhealthy placentas, we can monitor, and deliver in time to save the baby. The problem is that we lack tools to find failing placentas. I propose 3 new tools to check placental health: 1) baby's mid-pregnancy size (currently measured but not used) 2) baby's growth rate 3) a novel blood test By detecting failing placentas and babies at risk, these new tests will reduce stillbirth.