Research Areas

The Barwon Infant Study (BIS)

The Barwon Infant Study (BIS) is a birth cohort study being led by CHeRUB in collaboration with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and Deakin University.

BIS is internationally recognised and truly unique. The study closely follows over 1,000 Geelong mothers and their children, collecting samples and taking measurements all designed to unlock the early life secrets of disease and health.

Throughout the project we have been awarded more than 10 separate NHMRC grants, including three further project grants to undertake the BIS Primary School Review.

The resource that has been built is formidable, with a collection of over 500,000 biological samples which is now arguably the most complete early life ‘biobank’ in the world. Some of the key findings arising from BIS data are:

• Presence of the bacteria Prevotella in the mother gut during pregnancy is strongly associated with protection against allergic disease in the offspring (Vuillermin et al, Nat Comms, 2020).
• children with the bacteria Prevotella in their gut at 12 months of age had a lower prevalence of anxiety-like behaviours, including shyness, sadness and an internal focus, an indicator they may be at higher risk of going on to develop childhood anxiety. (Loughman et al, EBioMed, 2020)
• Lead levels in the blood of pre-school children have dropped overall, but those living in houses 50 years or more old, or those living in proximity to a lead-producing source have higher levels. (Symeonides et al, Med J Aust, 2020)

For more information visit www.barwoninfantstudy.org.au

The Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) Study

CHeRUB participates in the ENDIA Study, an NHMRC-funded longitudinal observational study of 1500 babies Australia-wide who have a first degree relative with type 1 diabetes. Participants include:

• Pregnant women with type 1 diabetes
• Men with type 1 diabetes whose partner is pregnant
• Children with type 1 diabetes whose mother is pregnant
• Babies under 6 months of age with a first degree relative (mum, dad, brother or sister) who has type 1 diabetes.

ENDIA researchers are investigating factors that may contribute to the development of islet autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes in children, such as:

• The genes of the participating child and their family member with type 1 diabetes
• The method of delivery (natural birth versus caesarean section)
• The mother’s nutrition during pregnancy and breast feeding
• Exposure to viruses during pregnancy and early life

Identifying the factors that initiate islet autoimmunity in early life could lead to a means of preventing type 1 diabetes before it begins.

For more information visit http://www.endia.org.au/

Assessing the Reduction of Recurrent admissions using OM-85 for the treatment of preschool Wheeze (ARROW)

CHeRUB will be leading a multicentre clinical trial to investigate whether the immune modulator OM85 can prevent hospital admission due to asthma among preschool aged children.

Acute wheezing illnesses present a huge health and economic burden and are the most common reason that preschool aged children are admitted to hospital in Australia. Current strategies to prevent hospital admissions due to preschool wheeze are ineffective, and parents and paediatricians identify developing effective treatments to prevent hospital admission as a research priority.

OM-85 is an orally administered bacterial lysate that stimulates immune responses associated with defence against viral infections and reduces the excessive inflammation of the respiratory mucosa associated with wheezing episodes.

Compelling evidence from animal, laboratory and clinical studies supports the hypothesis that OM-85 has the potential to reduce the risk of hospital admission due to preschool wheeze.

Over 30 hospitals in the Children’s Inpatient Research Collaboration of Australia and New Zealand (CIRCAN) are participating in this multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The study was awarded $1.6 million by the National Health and Medical Research Council in 2019 (only 1 in every 20 applications were successful).

For more information visit https://circan.org/om-85

The Pregnancy Research and Translation Ecosystem (PRT-E)

The Barwon Health Child Health Research Unit, in collaboration with Ballarat Health Services, East Grampians Health Service, Colac Area Health, Western District Health Service, Deakin University, Gen V (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute) and Federation University, leads the Pregnancy Research and Translation Ecosystem (PTR-E). PRT-E aims to generate and implement best evidence to improve maternal and infant health.

To achieve this, PRT-E will collect data on pregnancy care and collaborate with the GenV initiative, which aims to recruit and follow 80% of all infants born in Victoria over the coming 2 years. This data will create a world-leading and unique resource for future research.

In parallel, PRT-E will establish a Pregnancy Stakeholder Working Group of consumers and health professionals that will be trained and supported by the established systems of Deakin University’s Institute of Health Transformation. The Working Group will then co-design and co-produce the research program.

A starting priority is to design a clinical trial and translation plan with the aim of safely reducing the caesarean section rate in the region, which has risen to around 40%. It is a complex problem requiring design of a multifaceted intervention.

PRT-E will create a research, co-design and translation ecosystem that will drive continual improvements in mother and baby care. The program will be an exercise in people power meets cutting edge research methodology. We can’t wait to get the PRT-E started!

To find out more or get involved, visit the PRT-E website or email [email protected]