The Kids Research Institute Australia

Congratulations to Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics (ALIGN) for the launch of a first-of-its-kind online course Genomics Our Way – An Introduction to Genomics Research with Indigenous Australians.   The course is designed to equip researchers and students with the knowledge and skills to conduct ethical and respectful genomics research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.   Developed through ALIGN, led by Alex Brown (Yuin), Professor of Indigenous Genomics, The Kids Research Institute Australia and The Australian National University, with support from the The Australian Academy of Science - Theo Murphy Initiative (AAS-TMI), the University of Adelaide and the OCHRe network, registrations are now open for the free course. 👉 Register for free today: https://lnkd.in/gY6RYd5k

Did you catch the great article in The West Australian about the success of CliniKids’ CUES program and how it is helping to support families of autistic children who have anxiety around uncertainty?    In addition to a case study about one family’s successful CUES journey, autism researcher Dr Gail Alvares discussed the importance of early support.     “This program provides the first evidence that intervening early may help to reduce the impact of anxiety for autistic children and their families,” Dr Alvares said.    “That’s a huge gain, and means these children can do things they weren’t able to do before... and their parents’ capacity to support them improves.”  Read the full story (🔒): here: https://bit.ly/3QWKh4U    It’s not too late to sign up for CliniKids’ NU-CUES © (Coping with Uncertainty in Everyday Situations) workshop, beginning Thursday.    The online two-session workshop is designed to provide clinicians and #autism professionals with a greater understanding of why uncertainty is a particular challenge for some children on the spectrum and how to deliver this group program in clinical settings.    ✨ When? Thursday April 3 and 10, 3pm-6pm (AWST)  🔗 To find out more or register: https://bit.ly/3FxPqO1    #professionaldevelopment | #anxiety | #PD | #researchintopractice 

With less than two months until the HBF Run for a Reason, we’re shining a spotlight on the inspiring individuals who are lacing up their joggers for The Kids Research Institute Australia! 👟💙 Julia has been a dedicated volunteer in our Discovery Centre for more than two years, witnessing firsthand the impact our groundbreaking research and community outreach programs have on children’s lives. Now, she’s hitting the pavement to support our staff, researchers, and students. “I’ve gained insight into the exciting projects underway at The Kids and seen firsthand how their school programs are making a direct impact on children’s lives across Western Australia. I’m grateful to be part of this community and eager to help build a future filled with happy, healthy kids.” Let’s rally behind Julia and fuel life-changing child health research! Donate today: bit.ly/4j0sKEG 🙌

🚨 A game-changer for Aussie babies! 👶 WA’s nation-leading RSV immunisation program for babies has been found to be almost 90 per cent effective in reducing hospitalisations – a huge win for WA families!    Research by the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at The Kids Research Institute Australia shows RSV-related hospital admissions more than halved in just one year, helping more than 500 WA families avoid a hospital stay. Last year, the Department of Health (WA Health) led the way by offering the free RSV immunisation program to all WA babies born throughout the winter season.   The program’s success has helped to shape Australia’s $174.5 million national RSV immunisation rollout, now available to all pregnant women and newborns – with the potential to keep more than 10,000 babies out of hospital each year. 🔗 Read today’s feature in The West Australian: https://lnkd.in/drav5nPT 🔒  🌏 Learn more on our website: bit.ly/4hOXuYm Perth Children's Hospital Foundation Stan Perron Charitable Foundation Telethon7

📢 Your FREE Will opportunity ends soon! Only 5 days remain to create your FREE Will with Safewill before 31 March. Don’t miss out on this exclusive opportunity to create your Will (valued at $160) and secure your peace of mind.   It only takes 20 minutes to create your Will online, with the added reassurance that it’s been reviewed by Safewill Legal. Plus, enjoy 12 months of free updates, giving you the flexibility to update your will at no additional cost if your circumstances change.💡   Thinking about giving back? Think of the Kids - By including a gift to The Kids in your Will, you can help support ongoing children’s health research and ensure a brighter future for all. Our Gifts in Wills program is key to sustaining vital research efforts. 👉 Click here to get started today: https://lnkd.in/gsSb7Rwr

At The Kids Research Institute Australia, we believe the best way to shape the future of clinical care and research is by listening to those it impacts most. A recent study conducted in collaboration with The University of Western Australia, Perth Children’s Hospital, and Down Syndrome WA has done just that! Published in Archives of Childhood Disease ahead of #WorldDownSyndromeDay, the study brings together the voices of 215 patients and carers and 191 clinicians to determine the top 10 research and care priorities for children with Down syndrome. Topping the list? A gold standard model of care, including structured health checks across all levels of care. Other priorities include improving sleep quality, addressing acute care issues like sepsis, and enhancing anaesthesia safety for children with Down syndrome. By aligning medical research with the lived experiences of families, we can build a more coordinated, patient-centred approach that supports children not just in treatment, but throughout their lives. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gKhbrSxN

Congratulations to Dr Katherine Landwehr and Dr Pamela Laird from The Kids Research Institute Australia and Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre for receiving significant awards at the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science (ANZSRS) Annual Scientific Meeting in Adelaide! 👏 🔬 Dr Katherine Landwehr was awarded the Maurice Blackburn Grant-in-Aid for Early to Mid-Career Researchers in Occupational Lung Disease ($50,000) to further her critical research into the effects of biodiesel emissions on lung health. 🏥 Dr Pamela Laird received two prestigious awards totalling $32,500, including the Robert Pierce Grant-In-Aid for Indigenous Lung Health, supporting her work in improving lung health outcomes for Indigenous communities. She also received the Chiesi Advancing Women in Respiratory Health Award, recognising and empowering women in STEMM. Their groundbreaking work is shaping the future of respiratory health! 🌏💙  Read more 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gWmwz3uf    The Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre is a powerhouse partnership between The Kids Research Institute Australia, Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation and Perth Children’s Hospital. 

Calling all parents of newborns! 🍼✨     Did you know that a new pneumococcal vaccine is being developed to provide even greater protection for babies?   Researchers at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at The Kids Research Institute Australia are leading a global study into this potentially life-saving vaccine, designed to protect against 21 types of pneumococci – the bacteria responsible for serious infections like pneumonia, meningitis, and blood infections.     👶 Did you know that a Perth baby was the first child in the world to receive this new vaccine? You can read more about that in this story by The West Australian 👉 bit.ly/4hqWPMv 🔒     We’re looking for healthy babies aged 6-12 weeks who have not yet received their six-week vaccines to take part in this important study!     📍 What’s involved?   ✔️ Participation for 18-21 months   ✔️ Pneumococcal + all routine infant vaccinations   ✔️ Up to six visits to Perth Children’s Hospital   ✔️ Three blood collections   ✔️ Reimbursement for reasonable travel costs     Your participation could help shape the future of childhood vaccinations!      Submit your expression of interest today: 🔗 https://bit.ly/PneuVaccine 

We are excited to share that The Kids Research Institute Australia researcher Dr Mary Brushe’s study on screen time was JAMA Pediatrics’ most-read article of 2024! Dr Brushe’s findings highlighted a crucial insight: for every minute of screen time, young children engaged in fewer back-and-forth interactions with their parents.   The paper, Screen Time and Parent-Child Talk When Children Are Aged 12 to 36 Months, was viewed or downloaded more than 60,000 times – almost twice as many as the journal’s second-most-read article. Curious to learn more? Read the full study here 👉 https://lnkd.in/diHNeT4N 

💙🌏 Today, on World Down Syndrome Day, we celebrate the achievements, contributions, and resilience of people with Down syndrome. March 21 is a symbolic date, representing the three copies of the 21st chromosome that make individuals with DS unique.    At The Kids Research Institute Australia, we are dedicated to supporting children with Down syndrome and their families through innovative research and meaningful programs. From pioneering new treatments to creating empowering frameworks for children and their families, our work is driven by a deep commitment to inclusion, advocacy, and opportunity.    Learn more about the projects our researchers are working on to make a difference. 👇 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g9PU_Rgk