The Kids Research Institute Australia

This National Carers Week, we recognise carers like Joshua Patrick. Josh, a Year 12 student, has been a carer for his beautiful sister, Charlotte Patterson, since he was six.       Charlotte, 11, was born with a rare and undiagnosed disease that puzzled doctors - and meant she needed round-the-clock care.    “From the age of six I learnt to change nappies, help with seizure management and give dozens of medications,” Josh said.     “Looking after Charlotte has definitely shaped me. It’s not only taught me about how to support someone with disabilities, but it’s also taught me how to face adversity.”     Josh now engages in advocacy work and is passionate about working with young carers, people with disability and their families.  He has given a TEDxYouth talk, been named Community Youth Citizen of the Year, Lions Youth of the Year State Winner, and volunteered at The Kids Research Institute Australia. It was scientists at The Kids, led by The Kids’ Precision Health Program Head and computational biologist Dr Timo Lassmann, together with Perth Children’s Hospital, who were finally able to pinpoint the cause of Charlotte’s undiagnosed rare disease – and give her a diagnosis.  “That was a very exciting night - a real celebration of Charlotte’s diagnosis. We have a bit of a guidebook now, and a community. It has really made a difference.”     Read more about the work of our researchers, which is giving hope to kids like Charlotte and providing answers to carers like Josh: https://shorturl.at/qFoAN Child and Adolescent Health Service | Telethon7

A decade of discovery: how Perth’s preschoolers became global health pioneers. 🙌  Join us on a trip down memory lane as we celebrate some of the greatest hits from the PLAYCE cohort, which turns 10 today.  Thank you to the children, families, partners, and funders for your incredible contributions to children's health.  Your data and generosity have helped shape global standards for children's physical activity, sedentary behaviour, screen time and health.  Read more about the influence of the PLAYCE cohort here: https://lnkd.in/dCGxw66E #PLAYCE10Years #NatureNurtures #EarlyYearsMatter Heart Foundation | Department of Health (WA Health) | WA Local Government Association (WALGA) | Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure | Cancer Council Australia | Nature Play WA | Australian Childcare Alliance WA | The University of Western Australia | Goodstart Early Learning | MercyCare | ArborCarbon | Healthway | Life Course Centre

Researchers from The Kids will share in almost $4 million in grants to continue groundbreaking research tackling childhood cancer, asthma, respiratory viral infections and more. The funding from the WA Child Health Research Fund (WACRF) - established by the Cook Government and the Channel 7 Telethon Trust – provides grants up to $600,000 to support research into a range of critical health issues affecting young West Australians. Congratulations to the following activity leads and their teams: 💡 Prof Jane Pillow for the project Early Life Interventions and Long-Term Outcomes: A WA Feasibility Study of Preterm Children Exposed to Cycled Environmental Care after Birth 💡 Dr Bernadette Ricciardo for the project Moorditj Marp (strong skin) - SHARE: developing an inpatient Aboriginal Health Practitioner-led Skin Health Assessment & Research Evaluation initiative for Aboriginal children at the Perth Children’s Hospital 💡 A/Prof David Sommerfield for the project CLOWNFISH: Clonidine compared with oxycodone following tonsillotomy - a novel opioid free postoperative treatment option - investigating safety and health outcomes 💡 Dr David Hancock for the project Interferon-Based Diagnostics for Early Identification of Asthma Risk 💡 Dr Laurence Cheung for the project CHILD BMM: Combating HIgh-risk childhood Leukaemia by Dissecting the Bone Marrow Microenvironment 💡 Dr Katherine Landwehr for the project Assessing safety of OM85 treatment in a mouse model of mismatched bone marrow transplant 💡 Professor Chandrakumar Balaratnasingam from the Lions Eye Institute for the project Detecting systemic complications in childhood diabetes using novel, non-invasive retinal imaging Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gdWz8Hfs The University of Western Australia | Curtin University | Perth Children's Hospital | Child and Adolescent Health Service | Lions Eye Institute | Telethon7

We are delighted to share that @Associate Professor Shannon Simpson – Strong Beginnings Theme Head at The Kids Research Institute Australia, Co-Head of the Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre’s Foundations of Lung Disease team, Associate Professor at @Curtin University’s School of Allied Health, and a Stan Perron Charitable Foundation Fellow – has been awarded nearly $3 million through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)'s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) International Clinical Trials Collaborations Grant to lead the Australian arm of the BALLOON Trial. This landmark international trial will test whether an immune-activating spray can protect babies born before 30 weeks from severe respiratory infections, helping improve their lifelong lung health. 👉 Learn more about the BALLOON Trial: https://lnkd.in/gPZ7-6-f   Telethon7 | Perth Children's Hospital Foundation | Child and Adolescent Health Service | Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) | The University of Queensland | University of Melbourne | King Edward Memorial Hospital For Women | The Royal Women's Hospital | Mater

Antimicrobial resistance is on the rise – and it’s putting lives at risk worldwide. A new World Health Organization (WHO) report has found that one in six bacterial infections globally in 2023 were resistant to antibiotics. Between 2018 and 2023, resistance increased in more than 40% of pathogen-antibiotic combinations, with some growing by as much as 15% each year.  Anita Williams, Research Officer at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, based at The Kids, spoke with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)'s World Today program about the findings — and the simple steps we can all take to help.   “We can make sure that we follow our GP’s advice on taking antibiotics. We can also make sure that we return any medications that we might have to the pharmacy rather than keeping it for ourselves later or sharing them with other people.”   Listen to Anita’s full interview 👉 https://lnkd.in/ghiCmbDb  Read the WHO Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report 2025: https://lnkd.in/exWGRje3   

Registrations are now open for the inaugural West Coast Cancer Meeting, a full-day event featuring expert talks, research presentations, and sector-wide networking. Led by The Kids Research Institute Australia and the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, this collaborative event aims to spark new partnerships and strengthen WA’s cancer research landscape. 🗓️ Friday 7 November 2025 📍 McCusker Auditorium, QEII Medical Centre ⏰ 8:30am – 6:30pm, including the day event and sundowner 💵 Free, with catering provided Expressions of interest for oral and poster presentations are open until Wednesday 15 October. Learn more and register now: https://lnkd.in/gnVV5Ktf

Last week’s NAIDOC Celebration with Cockburn Integrated Health and the local community was truly a celebration of culture, connection & community.    The Kids was proud to stand alongside local organisations, health services, families, and leaders, listening and sharing stories, building trust, and celebrating the strength, vision, and legacy of the next generation. From traditional Noongar dance to hands-on health education, the event showcased the strength and legacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. NAIDOC isn’t just a celebration – it’s a reminder of the strength, resilience, and beauty of Aboriginal culture, and every week is an opportunity to connect, learn and grow together.     #NAIDOC2025 | #EarHealth  | Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases | #WCVID 

Here at The Kids, our vision is simple: happy, healthy kids.  And to live their happiest, healthiest lives, it’s vital that our children and young people experience optimal mental health and wellbeing. That’s why our researchers and scientists dedicate significant efforts to investigating mental health. Led by Wellbeing and Mental Health Theme Head Professor Ben Jackson, our work in the mental health space spans a number of areas served by dedicated teams, including:  🧠 Aboriginal health and wellbeing  🧠 Youth mental health  🧠 Psychology of active, healthy living  🧠 Early neurodevelopment and mental health Wellbeing and Mental Health research at The Kids focuses on improving the emotional and psychological health of children. We develop evidence-based interventions and strategies to:   💡 Reduce the prevalence and impact of mental health difficulties in young people  💡 Mitigate risk factors that lead to poor mental health  💡 Improve access to mental health support At its heart, our Mental Health research teams work to promote resilience, prevent mental health challenges, and help kids thrive. Learn more about our work in the mental health space: https://shorturl.at/1KtT2

Welcome to our latest edition of Research News. This issue features a major initiative for rare and undiagnosed diseases, with the launch of the Rare Care Comprehensive Centre — made possible by one of WA’s largest-ever philanthropic gifts, including $221.1 million from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation. Also in this edition, our researchers respond to claims linking paracetamol use during pregnancy to autism, the WA Government announces a needle-free nasal flu vaccine program for kids, and our world-first findings reveal that exclusive colostrum intake may significantly reduce the risk of food allergies in infants. Plus, we celebrate brain cancer researcher Jacob Byrne’s incredible achievement — 30 marathons in 30 days for Little Brains.

A life-changing treatment pioneered by researchers from The Kids Research Institute Australia will begin its second phase of clinical trials in November.    An inhaler-based drug developed by Respirion Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, increases antibiotic effectiveness and reduces the need of other therapies for young people living with Cystic Fibrosis.    After the initial trial’s success in 2024, which demonstrated significant improvements in the bacterial clearance and lung function of participants, the second phase of clinical trials will run for six months.    Nine visited The Kids to film and share Emma’s story and a small piece of what living with Cystic Fibrosis can look like for young people and their families, highlighting the need for newer and better treatments.    Read the release here: https://lnkd.in/gAnNWVmn     #Medicalresearch | #CysticFibrosis