Centre of Research Excellence in Newborn Medicine

03/04/2025

We are excited that we are now recruiting children born very preterm (

03/12/2024

Notice of Public Consultation: The SurPre Model of Care.

A new draft report of a co-designed model of care, which aims to monitor the development of very preterm children aged 2-4 years (the SurPre Model of Care) is now available for public consultation. Organisations, health professionals and members of the public with an interest in the developmental follow-up of children born very preterm are invited to give feedback on the Model of Care.

The SurPre Model of Care report and further information can be found here: https://www.crenewbornmedicine.org.au/our-news/news/2024/notice-for-public-consultation-the-surpre-model-of-care/

Due date for feedback: 17th of December 2024

The Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) in Newborn Medicine is a world leading, multidisciplinary team dedicated to generating and disseminating new evidence to ensure that all babies reach their full potential.

26/11/2024

Join us at The Research Connection
This exciting conference unites researchers, health professionals, and those with lived experience of preterm birth. Hear inspiring stories from young adults born preterm and parents navigating unique challenges. Researchers, discover how your work can directly impact lives.
Together, we'll shape the future of preterm care. Don't miss this chance to be part of a transformative dialogue!
Register now and be the connection that changes lives.
https://bit.ly/3Yv3bUO

22/10/2024

Join us at The Research Connection

This exciting conference unites researchers, health professionals, and those with lived experience of preterm birth. Hear inspiring stories from young adults born preterm and parents navigating unique challenges. Researchers, discover how your work can directly impact lives.

Together, we'll shape the future of preterm care. Don't miss this chance to be part of a transformative dialogue!
Register now and be the connection that changes lives.
https://bit.ly/3Yv3bUO

The Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) in Newborn Medicine is a world leading, multidisciplinary team dedicated to generating and disseminating new evidence to ensure that all babies reach their full potential.

05/09/2024

We are excited to announce that the team behind the Centre of Research Excellence in Newborn Medicine has been awarded their 4th NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence grant. Led by Professor Jeanie Cheong, the Extremely Preterm Infant CRE (EPIC) will drive improvements in the long-term health and development of these vulnerable newborn babies.

Read more:

A research centre based at MCRI has received federal funding to improve the health and development of extremely preterm infants.

24/06/2024

📢 ANNOUNCEMENT:
Clinical Practice Guideline Launching Today!

The Centre of Research Excellence in Newborn Medicine, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute is pleased to present:
The Guideline for Growth, Health and Developmental Follow-up for Children Born Very Preterm.

The Guideline presents the best current scientific evidence to assist decision making for the provision of follow-up services to infants born very preterm in Australia.

The Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) in Newborn Medicine is a world leading, multidisciplinary team dedicated to generating and disseminating new evidence to ensure that all babies reach their full potential.

05/12/2023

Are you the parent of a baby between 6 and 12 months old?
Are you interested in learning more about your baby’s development?

Researchers at The Royal Women’s Hospital, The University of Melbourne and the Centre of Research Excellence in Newborn Medicine at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute are conducting a study looking at ’ .

During the study, you would be required to attend two sessions (approximately 30 minutes duration each), less than two weeks apart. One session would be in-person, either in a clinic setting or in your home, and the other would be via video consultation.

We will give you feedback about your child’s movement development following the face-to-face assessment. Once both assessments have been completed, you will be asked to complete a short (less than 5 minute) survey and will have the option to participate in an interview to tell us about your experience in the study.

If you are interested in participating and would like further information, please email Kate Rawnsley at kate.rawnsley@student.unimelb.edu.au or click here: https://bit.ly/411cUlD

17/11/2023

A Call for Change to the Australian Government Parental Leave Pay Scheme for parents of babies born premature or unwell at birth.

Petition now open!

I was honoured to be in attendance at the Parliamentary Friends of Child and Adolescent Health and Mental Health Event yesterday at Parliament House, Canberra. Hosted by the Hon. Mike Freelander, MP, and Miracle Babies Foundation, I shared the research conducted by our team exploring the use of government and industry paid parental leave schemes by parents of preterm and/or sick newborns and the emotional and financial costs of preterm birth and extended hospitalisation.

Together with Miracle Babies Foundation and The University of Melbourne, the CRE in Newborn Medicine are calling for a change to the Australian Government Parental Leave Pay Scheme to offer greater support for parents with a baby born premature or critically ill.

Please sign the national petition below and share with your friends, families and colleagues. This change will keep parents and babies together, mitigating the financial and emotional cost of having a premature or sick baby and support improved outcomes for this vulnerable population.

https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN5627

Don’t forgot to confirm your signature by clicking the email confirmation in your inbox.

If you’d like to read our research article in full, please access here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jpc.16170

Miracle Babies Foundation The University of Melbourne, Victoria Dr Mike Freelander MP, Jenny Ware MP - Federal Member for HughesSenator Wendy Askew Senator Catryna Bilyk Angus Taylor MP

16/11/2023

👏Congrats to Cassidy Du Berry and Prof. Lex Doyle for being involved in this viewpoint that was published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

Have a read of the article "Unravelling the path across the lifespan for survivors of " ⬇️

Many survivors of preterm birth will have abnormal lung development, reduced peak lung function and, potentially, an increased rate of physiological lung function decline, each of which places them at increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease across the lifespan. Current rates of prete...

20/09/2023

🛑UPDATE: Guideline for , and Follow-up for Born Very

Deadline for the Public Consultation has now been extended to ➡️13th October 2023⬅️

For more information, please click here: bit.ly/46dopI2

18/09/2023

⚠ Notice for Public Consultation: Draft Guideline for , and Follow-up for Born Very ⚠

The Centre of Research Excellence in Newborn Medicine has developed a draft clinical practice guideline for growth, health and developmental follow-up for children born very preterm in Australia.

Organisations and members of the public with an interest in follow-up in infants born very preterm are invited to submit their comments and suggestions on the draft guideline to help inform and contribute to its development.

⏱ Submissions due 24th of September 2023

Please click here for more information 📝 bit.ly/46dopI

17/08/2023

The CRE held its first in-person PhD/ECR presentation and networking session last week since the pandemic. The projects ranged from to and determining the current knowledge by and support required for born .

Thank you to our presenters:
🟠Cassidy Du Berry (PhD student) - Pulmonary function of school-aged children born moderate-late preterm and early life associations
🟠Dr Tara FitzGerald - Early life predictors of physical activity for children born very preterm
🟠Dr Kate Cameron - Parent & child preferences for a physical activity participation intervention for children born very preterm: a qualitative study
🟠Dr Leona Pascoe - Preterm birth knowledge: What Australian teachers know and need to support children born preterm
🟠Dr Simonne Collins - PremmieEd: Parent arm
🟠Claire Kelly (PhD student) - Brain development from infancy to adulthood following very preterm birth
🟠Dr Amanda Kwong - The Baby Moves app: Boosting the availability and accuracy of the General Movements Assessment for high-risk infants

Special thank you to Prof Lex Doyle and A/Prof Brett Manley for providing invaluable insights to our presenters.

If you would like to find out more about these projects, please contact Dr Syaza Binte Abu Bakar at syaza.binteabubakar@mcri.edu.au