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The Kids researchers named as finalists in 2023 Premier’s Science AwardsFive The Kids Research Institute Australia researchers working across diverse and highly impactful areas of child health research have been named as finalists for the 2023 Premier’s Science Awards.

News & Events
Allied Health award for respiratory researcher Dr Pamela LairdCongratulations to respiratory health clinician-researcher Dr Pamela Laird, who has won Allied Health Researcher of the Year at the WA Excellence in Allied Health Awards.

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Research to see if AI can speed up therapy for people with antibiotic-resistant bacterial infectionsResearchers from the Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre are aiming to combine artificial intelligence with natural, infection-fighting viruses to help save lives from an increasingly common medical emergency found in hospitals.

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How summer bushfires can impact your family’s healthBushfires can have a considerable impact on our health, with some symptoms lasting long after the flames are extinguished. And our children are amongst the most vulnerable.

News & Events
International Day of Education: AI and Education at The Kids Research InstituteToday, 24 January 2025, is International Day of Education, a global celebration of the power of learning to transform lives. This year’s theme, “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in an Automated World”, underscores the critical role of education in preparing kids for a future increasingly shaped by AI.
Research
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Resistance to Bacteriophages and Its Prevention by Strategic Therapeutic Cocktail FormulationAntimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to modern healthcare as it limits treatment options for bacterial infections, particularly impacting those with chronic conditions such as cystic fibrosis (CF). Viscous mucus accumulation in the lungs of individuals genetically predisposed to CF leads to recurrent bacterial infections, necessitating prolonged antimicrobial chemotherapy. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are the predominant driver of CF lung disease, and airway isolates are frequently resistant to multiple antimicrobials.
Research
Profiling epithelial viral receptor expression in amniotic membrane and nasal epithelial cells at birthChildren with wheeze and asthma present with airway epithelial vulnerabilities, such as impaired responses to viral infection. It is postulated that the in utero environment may contribute to the development of airway epithelial vulnerabilities.
Research
Suppression of TGF-β/SMAD signaling by an inner nuclear membrane phosphatase complexCytokines of the TGF-β superfamily control essential cell fate decisions via receptor regulated SMAD (R-SMAD) transcription factors. Ligand-induced R-SMAD phosphorylation in the cytosol triggers their activation and nuclear accumulation. We determine how R-SMADs are inactivated by dephosphorylation in the cell nucleus to counteract signaling by TGF-β superfamily ligands.
Research
Identifying High-Risk Bacteria with Active Nasal Swab Surveillance in Intensive Care Units to Prevent Ventilator-Associated PneumoniaActive nasal surveillance culture (ANSC) is recognized to enable rapid detection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the intensive care unit (ICU), which can contribute to the prevention of Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of ANSC in assessing the development of VAP in ICU patients.
Research
Phage cocktail amikacin combination as a potential therapy for bacteremia associated with carbapenemase producing colistin resistant Klebsiella pneumoniaeThe increasing occurrence of hospital-associated infections, particularly bacteremia, caused by extensively drug-resistant (XDR) carbapenemase-producing colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae highlights a critical requirement to discover new therapeutic alternatives. Bacteriophages having host-specific bacteriolytic effects are promising alternatives for combating these pathogens.