The Australian Society for Medical Research
ASMR Medical Research Week® June 1-8, 2013
Media Release Embargoed until June 5, 2013
ASMR WA Scientific Symposium
Edith Cowan University – June 5 2013
WESTERN AUSTRALIA SHINES AS YOUNG RESEARCHERS GET TOGETHER TO PRESENT
THEIR WORLD CLASS SCIENCE
Preterm birth is a significant and increasing obstetric challenge in Australia and abroad.
Last year 14.9 million babies were born preterm worldwide, approximately 1 million of which died as a result
of their prematurity. Infection and inflammation in the womb is a major cause of preterm birth. Lisa Stinson
and colleagues at The University of Western Australia have tested four drugs that can be administered intraamniotically and excitingly, two of these reduced inflammation when tested on human fetal membranes. Lisa
said, “Administration of antibiotics plus cytokine-suppressive anti-inflammatory drugs (CSAIDs) may be useful
in preventing premature births in some pregnancies. Intraamniotic delivery allows targeting of fetal
membranes and tissues without risk to maternal immunity. “
Fish Oil to Protect Pregnancy
Dietary fish oil could reduce the placental inflammation associated with several pregnancy disorders.
Inflammation of the placenta can cause severe health problems for both the mother and growing fetus, such
as intrauterine growth restriction (poor growth of the fetus in the mother’s womb). Megan Jones (School of
Anatomy, Physiology & Human Biology, The University of Western Australia) and colleagues have shown,
using rats, that consuming fish oil during pregnancy may help resolve placental inflammation and improve
fetal growth. Megan said, “This work provides a strong basis for follow-up clinical studies on the benefits of
fish oil in pregnancy.”
The Importance of Vitamin D to your lungs and your weight!
Protect your lungs
Rachel Foong (Telethon Institute for Child Health Research) said, “Vitamin D deficiency since birth is
associated with an increase in airway hyperresponsiveness airway smooth muscle mass and altered lung
structure in female adult mice”. This study provides evidence that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to
airway remodeling and airway hyperresponsiveness in chronic lung disease.
Targeting the Placenta
Joan Leong (School of Women’s and Infants’ Health, The University of Western Australia) and colleagues are
working on nanoparticle-based medicine which has a wide range of potential benefits across different medical
settings. Chief among these is the ability to design a targeted system so that side effects may be reduced.
This work highlights the potential for using this platform to treat placental disorders during pregnancy.
Nanoparticle surfaces are often coated with cationic amine groups like polyethylenimine (PEI) to enhance
tissue uptake. Joan said, “Our findings suggest selective delivery of drugs to the placenta could be feasible
using PEI-coated nanoparticles augmented with placental-targeting ligands.”
The Complexity of Infant and Toddler Feeding Problems
Feeding difficulties encompass a wide spectrum of clinical presentations and backgrounds. The aetiology of
feeding disorders is complex and may be influenced by infant, parent and infant-parent relationship factors.
This research looks at the infants and toddlers who were referred to the Multidisciplinary Complex Feeding
Clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne (MCFC). Children attending the MCFC have severe and
multifactorial feeding difficulties that often coexist with social-emotional problems. Izaak Lim (University of
Western Australia) said, “Parental distress and disrupted relationships may precipitate, arise from, and/or
perpetuate severe complex feeding difficulties.”
Your Mental Health, Your Child
Could a mother’s pre-existing mental health increase the risk of her subsequent children developing
intellectual disability? Jenny Fairthorne (Telethon Institute for Child Health Research) analysed data from two
WA health registries and disability registries and found that “pre-existing maternal mental health affected the
The Australian Society for Medical Research ACN 000 599 235 - ABN 18 000 599 235
145 Macquarie Street. Sydney, 2000 Ph: (02) 9256 5450, Fax (02) 9252 0294
Email: asmr@world.net, Website: www.asmr.org.au Snr Executive Officer: Catherine West
likelihood of her subsequent children developing intellectual disability, autism or both”. These findings may
have implications on future research into the genetic and environmental causes of these disabilities.
Interview and photo opportunities contact: Coral Ann Almeida. 0419 193 495 or Catherine West 0415 928 211
Major National Sponsor of ASMR MRW®
Major National Supporter of ASMR MRW®
The ASMR Medical Research Week® undertaken by
The Australian Society for Medical Research
is supported by funding from
The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
The Australian Society for Medical Research ACN 000 599 235 - ABN 18 000 599 235
145 Macquarie Street. Sydney, 2000 Ph: (02) 9256 5450, Fax (02) 9252 0294
Email: asmr@world.net, Website: www.asmr.org.au Snr Executive Officer: Catherine West