Neonatal Research

Research within John Hunter Children's Hospital NICU aims to improve the care and outcome of newborn babies today and in the future. Neonatal research has improved the understanding of babies with health problems and greatly improved their survival and long term outcomes. We continue to do research studies to make sure that babies continue to benefit from the best treatments. This is achieved through local studies and joining other neonatal centres around the world in their research. All research undertaken within the hospital has approval from the HNEAHS Ethics Committee.

Because of research the outlook for babies with health problems has improved enormously over the last 40 years. We continue to do research studies to make sure that babies continue to benefit from the best treatments.

If your baby is looked after in the Neonatal Unit, you may be asked if she or he can take part in one or more of these studies. You have the choice about whether your baby takes part. If you decide to say no, it will not affect your baby's care in any way. You can change your mind at any time if you're in a study. Parents cannot decide to take part at a later date. If you would like to know more about any of the research studies, please ask a nurse or doctor in the nursery. 

Neonatal Research

PICOS

The Premature Infant Carbon Monoxide Study hopes to look at babies who are at risk of low blood pressure and, potentially, explore more effective treatments.

We know that low blood pressure is associated with more problems in the immediate newborn period and it has been demonstrated that this may be related, in part, to a particular hormone called cortisol present in both mother and baby. This study will also aim to establish how certain hormones in the mother and child may contribute to the differences in severity of illness observed.

 

PREMI-REMI

We know that babies can sense pain and are stressed by the painful procedures that are part of their essential NICU care. Although we try to offer the best pain relief we have, our current choices are limited and not always enough.

We are conducting an RCT of a new pain relieving drug, “Remifentanil”, in newborns who need a painful procedure. You may be asked to consider this trial if your baby needs to have a “central line” inserted whilst they are in the NICU.

 

TORPIDO

When babies are born they may need some oxygen to help them recover from the birth process. We have switched from using 100% oxygen for all babies to using air and increasing oxygen as required in term babies as this has been shown to improve their outcomes. This study is looking to see if we should be doing the same thing or continue with 100% oxygen in premature babies at delivery.

 

PROPREMS

Premature babies are at risk of infections including a specific infection of the gut called necrotising enterocolitis. Recent evidence has suggested that they may do better if they have “good bacteria” added to their milk as probiotics. This multicentred trial is to look and see if using such a probiotic will protect prems from infection and its consequences.

 

AUSTRALIAN PLACENTAL TRANSFUSION STUDY

Placental transfusion may help preterm babies by preventing anaemia and improving low blood flow. This may reduce bleeding in the brain, lung and gut problems, infection and the need for blood transfusions.

There are two ways of caring for babies from birth. Standard practise is to cut the umbilical cord immediately at birth. The second practise is to let the baby get extra blood by delaying clamping of the umbilical cord so that the blood from the placenta is transfused into the baby.