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Call for national newborn screening for little-known CMV virusWestern Australian researchers advocate for a national newborn screening program for congenital CMV to prevent hearing loss and related disabilities in infants.
News & Events
Decades-old work picked up by Google’s DeepMind leads to global scientific breakthroughA researcher's work from 20 years ago has helped to crack one of biology’s biggest mysteries.
News & Events
Leading disease modeller appointed inaugural Fiona Stanley Chair of Child Health ResearchThe Kids Research Institute Australia and The University of Western Australia are proud to announce the appointment of the inaugural Fiona Stanley Chair of Child Health Research, Professor Melissa Penny.
Research
COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake, Sources of Information and Side Effects Reported by Pregnant Women in Western Australia: Cross-Sectional Cohort SurveyPregnant women are a priority group for COVID-19 vaccination due to their vulnerability as a high-risk cohort. However, the currentCOVID-19 vaccine uptake rate for COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women in Western Australia remains largely unknown.
Research
Factors influencing adult and adolescent completion of treatment for late syphilis: a mixed methods systematic reviewTo identify factors influencing the completion of a three-dose course of weekly intramuscular benzathine penicillin G injections by adults and adolescents with syphilis of unknown duration or late syphilis.
Research
The overlapping global distribution of dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow feverArboviruses transmitted mainly by Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti and Ae. albopictus, including dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses, and yellow fever virus in urban settings, pose an escalating global threat. Existing risk maps, often hampered by surveillance biases, may underestimate or misrepresent the true distribution of these diseases and do not incorporate epidemiological similarities despite shared vector species.
Research
Impact of Meningococcal ACWY Vaccination Program during 2017-18 Epidemic, Western Australia, AustraliaThe rising incidence of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W in Western Australia, Australia, presents challenges for prevention. We assessed the effects of a quadrivalent meningococcal vaccination program using 2012-2020 IMD notification data.
Research
Otitis media at 6-monthly assessments of Australian First Nations children between ages 12–36 months: Findings from two randomised controlled trials of combined pneumococcal conjugate vaccinesIn remote communities of northern Australia, First Nations children with hearing loss are disproportionately at risk of poor school readiness and performance compared to their peers with no hearing loss. The aim of this trial is to prevent early childhood persisting otitis media (OM), associated hearing loss and developmental delay.
Research
Intervention effect of targeted workplace closures may be approximated by single-layered networks in an individual-based model of COVID-19 controlIndividual-based models of infectious disease dynamics commonly use network structures to represent human interactions. Network structures can vary in complexity, from single-layered with homogeneous mixing to multi-layered with clustering and layer-specific contact weights. Here we assessed policy-relevant consequences of network choice by simulating different network structures within an established individual-based model of SARS-CoV-2 dynamics.
Research
COVID-19 vaccine coverage targets to inform reopening plans in a low incidence settingSince the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019 through to mid-2021, much of the Australian population lived in a COVID-19-free environment. This followed the broadly successful implementation of a strong suppression strategy, including international border closures. With the availability of COVID-19 vaccines in early 2021, the national government sought to transition from a state of minimal incidence and strong suppression activities to one of high vaccine coverage and reduced restrictions but with still-manageable transmission.