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Research
Safety, tolerability, and effect of a single aural dose of Dornase alfa at the time of ventilation tube surgery for otitis media: A Phase 1b double randomized control trialOne third of children require repeat ventilation tube insertion (VTI) for otitis media. Disease recurrence is associated with persistent middle ear bacterial biofilms. With demonstration that Dornase alfa (a DNase) disrupts middle ear effusion biofilms ex vivo, we identified potential for this as an anti-biofilm therapy to prevent repeat VTI. First, safety and tolerability needed to be measured.
Research
Evidence of maternal transfer of antigen-specific antibodies in serum and breast milk to infants at high-risk of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae diseaseChildren in low-mid income countries, and First Nations children in high-income countries, experience disproportionately high rates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae infections and diseases including pneumonia and otitis media.
Research
An infant mouse model of influenza-driven nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae colonization and acute otitis media suitable for preclinical testing of novel therapiesNontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a major otitis media (OM) pathogen, with colonization a prerequisite for disease development. Most acute OM is in children <5 years old, with recurrent and chronic OM impacting hearing and learning. Therapies to prevent NTHi colonization and/or disease are needed, especially for young children. Respiratory viruses are implicated in driving the development of bacterial OM in children.
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Impact of ventilation tube insertion on long-term language outcomes at 6 and 10 years of age: A prospective pregnancy cohort studyInvestigating the impact of early childhood ventilation tube insertion (VTI) on long-term language outcomes.
Research
Aural toilet (ear cleaning) for chronic suppurative otitis mediaChronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), sometimes referred to as chronic otitis media (COM), is a chronic inflammation and often polymicrobial infection (involving more than one micro-organism) of the middle ear and mastoid cavity, characterised by ear discharge (otorrhoea) through a perforated tympanic membrane.
Research
Panel 4: Recent advances in understanding the natural history of the otitis media microbiome and its response to environmental pressuresAdvances in understanding bacterial dynamics in the upper airway microbiome are driving development of microbiota-modifying therapies to prevent or treat disease
News & Events
The Kids researchers named as finalists in 2020 Premier’s Science AwardsTwo The Kids Research Institute Australia researchers have been named as finalists in the 2020 Western Australian Premier’s Science Awards.
News & Events
A new job for a specialised drugThe Kids is investigating whether a cystic fibrosis medication may be the answer to ear infections, reducing the need for antibiotics and surgery.
Research
Does mum know best? Should we be vaccinating mothers to protect their babies from ear and lung disease?Elke Lea-Ann Ruth Peter Seppanen Kirkham Thornton Richmond BSc PhD PhD PhD MBBS MRCP(UK) FRACP Program Manager, Bacterial Respiratory Infectious