UniSA research wins support for children’s health and welfare

Work to improve children’s health, education and welfare has received a worthy boost after the Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation (CRF) awarded almost $400,000 in grants to University of South Australia researchers.

The Channel 7 CRF grants support South Australia’s world-class researchers to generate new knowledge and build research capability with the aim of improving the quality of life for children. The Foundation is committed to building knowledge and capability in the critical areas of child protection, mental health, reducing obesity and understanding the impacts that social determinants have on a child’s life.

In the 2020 grants, UniSA has been awarded five Channel 7 CRF grants, totalling $377,849:

• Professor Allison Cowin has been awarded $99,852 to develop an innovative therapeutic approach for the treatment of infected burns in children, one of the most common injuries suffered by children and one of the top three causes of death under five years.
• Professor Leann Dibbens has received $100,000 to investigate drug resistance in children suffering seizures and psychiatric disorders caused by potassium channels. The team has identified naturally occurring molecules in the body that could deliver ground-breaking new treatments.
• Dr Preethi Eldi will be breaking new ground in food allergies, finding new ways to treat Australia’s growing food-induced anaphylactic reactions. Awarded $38,000, the project will test the effectiveness of a new immunotherapeutic vaccine to promote peanut allergen desensitization.
• Dr Emmanuel Gnanamanickam has received $40,000 to address and prevent child abuse in Australia by carrying out the first ever assessment of welfare dependency outcomes post child abuse and neglect, seeking to drive impetus to invest in prevention strategies.
• Professor Leonie Segal will explore early in life outcomes of children whose mothers have been involved in the child protection system. Awarded $100,000, the project will establish protective or detrimental maternal factors to disrupt inter-generational disadvantage and encourage positive childhood outcomes.

UniSA’s Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research and Innovation, Professor Simon Beecham says he is delighted that the grants will support such worthy research projects.

“This research will help improve the health, education and welfare of Australian children – our country’s future – so it’s value cannot be overstated,” Prof Beecham says.

“It’s fantastic to see UniSA’s innovative research recognised and supported so that we can continue to create positive outcomes for Australian children now, and in the future.”

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PRESS RELEASE: November 2019     

Media: Annabel Mansfield: office +61 8 8302 0351 | mobile: +61 417 717 504
email: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au