Chief Investigator:

Dr Kerrilyn Diener

Funding Amount:

$75,000

Recipient:

The University of Adelaide

Overview:

Preterm babies are particularly vulnerable to acquiring sepsis during their hospital stay, which not only increases the risk of mortality, but also the likelihood of brain-related disorders in survivors from 28% to 49%. There is an emerging concept that HMGB1, a danger molecule released within the body as a result of sepsis, can perpetuate this abnormal brain development. We will investigate this further, as our aim is to develop a targeted therapy that will increase survival rates and support normal brain development. This will significantly benefit the long-term health for preterm neonates.