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Prevention of Mental Health Difficulties for Children Aged 0–3 Years: A ReviewThe period of infancy and early childhood is a critical time for interventions to prevent future mental health problems. The first signs of mental health difficulties can be manifest in infancy, emphasizing the importance of understanding and identifying both protective and risk factors in pregnancy and the early postnatal period.
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Epigenomic variability is associated with age-specific naïve CD4 T cell response to activation in infants and adolescentsChildhood is a critical period of immune development. During this time, naïve CD4 T cells undergo programmed cell differentiation, mediated by epigenetic changes, in response to external stimuli leading to a baseline homeostatic state that may determine lifelong disease risk. However, the ontogeny of epigenetic signatures associated with CD4 T cell activation during key developmental periods are yet to be described.
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Examining the relationship between maternal mental health-related hospital admissions and childhood developmental vulnerability at school entry in Canada and AustraliaIt is well established that maternal mental illness is associated with an increased risk of poor development for children. However, inconsistencies in findings regarding the nature of the difficulties children experience may be explained by methodological or geographical differences.
Research
Airway smooth muscle thickness and contraction are enhanced by intra-amniotic lipopolysaccharide in an ovine model of premature birthAbnormalities of the airway smooth muscle (ASM) layer in asthma may develop before birth. We hypothesize that antenatal inflammation causes physiological abnormalities of the ASM that predisposes asthma. This study determined the short-term effects of antenatal inflammation on the developing ASM.
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The role of social support in differentiating trajectories of adolescent depressed moodThis study explored the extent to which disaggregated support from family, peers, close friendships, teachers, and schools predicted membership into identified, sex-specific trajectories of depressed mood in 3210 Australian adolescents (49% females) based on self-report data collected at four annual time points from school Grade 6 to 9 (ages 10–16).
Research
Wellbeing and academic achievement paperIn this report, we explore the relationship between student wellbeing, school engagement, and academic achievement.
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Child development at school entry and student wellbeing six years laterIt has been well established that children's development at school entry is associated with their later academic achievement, but less is known about whether there is also an association with other measures of school success, such as students' social and emotional wellbeing.

News & Events
Early childhood researcher a finalist in peak South Australian science awardsA The Kids Research Institute Australia researcher whose PhD studies highlighted the link between screen time exposure and toddlers’ language development has been named a finalist in South Australia’s Science Excellence and Innovation Awards.

News & Events
The Kids Research Institute Australia to lead ground-breaking child health research in South AustraliaThe Kids Research Institute Australia's Adelaide facility has been officially opened by South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas.
News & Events
No link between testosterone levels in womb and behaviourA project from the Raine Study shows testosterone levels in the womb have little impact on later childhood behavior.