Professor Michelle Giles | Professor Daniel Rolnik, Professor Magdalena Plebanski, Professor Katie Flanagan, Dr Stephen Cole
Monash University
Sum provided $74,760
RSV and whooping cough can cause severe illness in newborn babies, and vaccination during pregnancy provides important early protection. While both vaccines can currently be given together, it is not yet known whether coadministration provides the same immune response as giving them separately. This randomised trial will compare the two approaches to determine which vaccination schedule provides the strongest protection for newborns. Findings could directly inform national vaccination guidelines and help protect vulnerable babies from serious respiratory disease.
Kate Hodgson | Prof Brett Manley, A/Prof Chris McKinlay, Dr Tugba Alarcon Martinez, Dr Elizabeth Baker
The Women’s
Sum provided $61,150
Around one in ten babies worldwide is born preterm, and caffeine is routinely used to help very preterm babies breathe. Yet the ideal dose — and how different doses affect the developing heart and brain — remains uncertain. BabyCCINO-PLUS will study 660 babies alongside a major international clinical trial to understand how caffeine works and identify the safest and most effective dose. The findings could shape international treatment guidelines, reduce chronic lung disease and improve survival and long-term development for very preterm babies.
Dr Erica Plummer | Professor Catriona Bradshaw, Dr Lenka Vodstrcil
Monash University
Sum provided $74,860
Pelvic inflammatory disease can lead to infertility, chronic pelvic pain and ectopic pregnancy, yet in more than half of cases the underlying infection is not identified. This project will use advanced genomic sequencing to uncover the bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that may cause the disease. By improving understanding of its microbial causes, the research could enable more accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment, reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and help prevent irreversible reproductive complications.
Lucy Loft | Professor Brett Manley, Professor David Tingay, Associate Professor Risha Bhatia
University of Melbourne / Mercy Perinatal / MCRI
Sum provided $75,000
Very preterm babies often need breathing support, but mechanical ventilation can damage their fragile developing lungs. The MISTIC trial will test whether briefly increasing non-invasive breathing support before administering surfactant can help open the lungs more effectively and reduce the need for mechanical ventilation. If successful, this simple, low-cost intervention could be rapidly adopted in neonatal units worldwide, reducing lung injury and the lifelong burden of chronic lung disease in premature babies.
Dr Melvin Barrientos Marzan | Prof Lisa Hui, A/Prof Xiaoqin Liu, A/Prof Nhung Trinh
University of Melbourne / Mercy Perinatal
Sum provided $55,300
Gestational diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy can be early warning signs of a woman’s future risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This project will combine genetic, lifestyle and environmental data to identify the factors most likely to drive that future risk — and which may be modified. The research aims to move care beyond one-size-fits-all advice by identifying targeted prevention strategies for women following complicated pregnancies, providing the evidence needed for the next generation of prevention trials.
Alexandra Roddy Mitchell | Dr Natasha Pritchard, Dr Hannah Gordon, Dr Melvin Marzan, Ms Melanie Moir, Prof Susan Walker
University of Melbourne / Mercy Perinatal
Sum provided $69,572
Small babies face an increased risk of stillbirth, but not every small baby is unhealthy. Using data from almost three million Australian births, this project will investigate which small babies are genuinely at highest risk, including babies from twin pregnancies, and when birth may be safest. The findings could improve identification of babies at risk of stillbirth, guide more personalised monitoring and timing of birth, and reduce unnecessary intervention for babies who are small but healthy.
Dr Scott Stansfield | Dr Carmel Walsh, Prof Kirsten Palmer, Prof Marcel Nold
Monash University
Sum provided $72,740
Chorioamnionitis is a serious infection and inflammation of the placenta and membranes that can threaten both mother and baby and is a major cause of preterm birth. There is currently no reliable non-invasive test to diagnose it before birth. Building on an earlier NBMRF-funded pilot, ChorioBUG 2 will investigate promising biomarkers in maternal blood to detect and measure inflammation earlier. The ultimate goal is a diagnostic test that helps clinicians determine when a baby needs to be delivered — reducing the risks of severe infection while avoiding unnecessary premature birth.
Georgia Stephen | Prof David Tingay, Dr Arun Sett, A/Prof Risha Bhatia, A/Prof Prue Pereira-Fantini
MCRI
Sum provided $75,000
Removing a breathing tube is a critical moment for very preterm babies, and some babies deteriorate and need to be re-intubated, increasing the risk of complications and longer hospital stays. This study will test whether starting gentle nasal breathing support before the tube is removed — known as prePAP — improves oxygen levels and makes the transition safer. The trial will provide the first rigorous evidence for this promising approach and could lay the foundation for an international trial to improve breathing care for very preterm babies worldwide.
Dr Jaimi Manfield | Dr Tristan McCaughey, Dr Prathima Chowdary, A/Prof Emma Readman, Dr Lenore Ellett, Mrs Michal Zelcer
Mercy Hospital
Sum provided $30,038
Adenomyosis can cause debilitating pain, heavy bleeding and fertility problems, yet treatment options remain limited. This Phase I study will assess the safety of EndoProtect, a purpose-built intrauterine device designed to deliver a higher dose of hormone directly to the uterus. Establishing its safety is the critical first step toward larger clinical trials and could ultimately provide women with a more effective, non-surgical treatment for a common but historically under-researched condition.
Ishmael (Mikee) Miguel Inocencio | Dr Indya Davies, Professor Stuart Hooper, A/Prof Shayanti Mukherjee, A/Prof Rebecca Lim, Dr Kelly Crossley, Dr Charlotte Keung, Prof Daniel Rolnik
Hudson Institute of Medical Research
Sum provided $74,039
Fetal surgery can repair the spinal defect caused by severe spina bifida, but it cannot restore nerve tissue already damaged before birth. This project will combine regenerative placental cells with a specialised hydrogel and apply them directly to the spinal cord during fetal surgery. By reducing inflammation and protecting developing nerve tissue, the therapy aims to make fetal repair biologically protective as well as structural. If successful, it could pave the way for a new regenerative treatment to improve mobility, independence and quality of life for children born with spina bifida.
A/Prof Miranda Davies-Tuck | A/Prof Shayanti Mukherjee, Dr Holly Ung, Dr Sarah Marshall, Prof Daniel Rolnik, Dr Fiona Cousin, Prof Natalie Hannan, Prof Caroline Gargett, Prof Beverley Vollenhoven
Hudson Institute of Medical Research
Sum provided $74,117
Preeclampsia remains a major threat to mothers and babies, and there is still no treatment capable of stopping or reversing the disease. Emerging evidence suggests its origins may begin before pregnancy in the endometrium — the lining of the uterus where the placenta first develops. Using menstrual fluid and advanced 3D bioprinting, this project will create personalised models of the endometrium and investigate how aspirin acts on this early environment. The research could reveal why aspirin prevents preeclampsia in some women but not others and identify new targets for earlier, more effective prevention.
Dr Billie Bradford | A/Prof Miranda Davies-Tuck, Dr Nicole Pope, Prof Patrick Olivier, Prof Kirsten Palmer
Monash University / MCHRI
Sum provided $74,526.09
Changes in a baby’s movements can be an important warning sign of stillbirth and other pregnancy complications, yet women currently have no standardised way to understand or track their own baby’s movement pattern. The co-designed Baby Kicks App enables women to record movement features known to be associated with lower stillbirth risk and provides personalised information about their baby. This pilot study will test the app with 300 pregnant women and explore the use of machine learning to improve risk prediction, creating a pathway towards a scalable digital tool that could help women recognise when to seek care and contribute to stillbirth prevention.
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Bank: Bendigo
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Account No: 5529128
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