This project will use intergenerational data from three Australian longitudinal studies that have tracked the mental health and wellbeing of several thousand participants prior to parenthood. The aim is to understand how the lives parents lived before conception, as well as events during pregnancy, shape social and emotional outcomes for their children. Data for this project are unique internationally, and have taken many years to acquire. Results will inform radically new approaches to promoting child health and development across generations.

The research team have so far undertaken a single site pilot study over 12 months, using the same protocol and have demonstrated that none of our intervention participants have developed crush fractures since the start of Zoledronic acid treatment, whereas all control participants have developed at least one crush fracture within 12 months. Other children’s hospitals have expressed significant interest in the study. The results of this trial if positive, would have far reaching consequences in terms of potential reduction in morbidity, hospitalisation and immobilisation of affected boys. Results will inform practice worldwide, providing improved standard clinical care for these patients, thus leading to improved patient quality of life and improved family burden of care for boys with DMD and their families.

As part of a unique, population-based, multidisciplinary study, we will assess the biological legacy of specific patterns of prenatal alcohol exposure on cheek cells from newborn babies. Gene activity in cheek cells can mirror that in the brain. We are particularly focused on very early alcohol exposure, before pregnancy awareness, as this is a common occurrence in our population. We will also determine whether a biological epigenetic legacy can be used to predict health outcomes in children.

Over 90% of childhood asthma attacks are caused by rhinovirus (3 common species: A, B, C) or respiratory syncytial virus.  In September 2014, the last and most important of the 4 cell receptors for these viruses was discovered. We now plan, therefore, to study how each of these common viruses affects the airway by starting at the cell receptor and, by using advanced gene profiling assessment techniques, tracking in detail the key immune response pathways that lead to airway inflammation. 

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumour affecting children. There is poor survival and significant long-term side effects from current therapies. CDK6 is a highly activated enzyme in many patients with medulloblastoma and associated with poor prognosis. Inhibiting its activity will stop the cancer cells from proliferating, causing cell death. Our search for a drug to cure medulloblastoma has identified a novel series of CDK6 inhibitors. We will develop drug candidate as a new treatment against childhood medulloblastoma. 

Scabies and strongyloidiasis are widespread in many Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander communities. In 2010 and 2011 we conducted ivermectin mass drug administrations and trialled a non-invasive collection method (dried blood spots collected from a finger prick) that was used in an adapted detection tool (NIE-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) to diagnose strongyloidiasis. This follow-up study will measure disease occurrence 5 years after two ivermectin mass drug administrations and changes to public health policy and practice.

Dietary interventions are generally effective in treating obesity. However, the best way to achieve weight loss, particularly in children, is unknown. In this study we will assess a novel dietary strategy, intermittent fasting (popularised as the 5:2 diet), which has demonstrated success in adults. We speculate that this diet, which includes 3 days/week of energy restriction and 4 days of habitual energy intake, may be more sustainable and lead to greater weight loss compared to daily energy restriction.