Saving tiny lives: NHMRC grants awarded to Monash Health neonatologists

Monash Health proudly announces that neonatology and infant healthcare experts Associate Professor Flora Wong and Dr Calum Roberts have been awarded National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grants for their research projects in neonatal care. These grants will support their research over the next five years.  

Their projects aim to improve health outcomes for premature and sick infants and highlight the critical need for advancements in neonatal care to address the unique challenges faced by this vulnerable population. 

The NHMRC Investigator Grants are highly competitive, with only 229 grants awarded funding out of 1,666 applications. These grants provide funding and substantial research support packages, allowing researchers to pursue innovative directions and form necessary collaborations without being restricted to specific project scopes. 

Associate Professor Flora Wong: Personalising brain care in preterm babies 

2024 Investigator Grants – Leadership 1 

Associate Professor Flora Wong, a Consultant Neonatologist at Monash Newborn, has been awarded over $2 million for her research ‘Personalising brain care in preterm babies.’ A/Prof Wong, also a Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Paediatrics and The Ritchie Centre, Monash University, focuses on preventing and detecting brain injuries in premature infants. 

Brain injury is a prevalent issue in preterm infants, often leading to severe, lifelong neurodevelopmental problems. A/Prof Wong’s research aims to address this by implementing personalised and ‘brain-oriented’ care in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). Her project will utilise advanced neuroimaging techniques to detect brain injury early and tailor hospital treatments to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes.  

A/Prof Wong said, “By tailoring brain care to the individual needs of infants born preterm, we can significantly enhance their neurodevelopmental outcomes and provide them with a better start in life.” 

Dr Calum Roberts: Improving health outcomes for sick and premature infants 

2024 Investigator Grants – Emerging Leadership 2 

Dr Calum Roberts, a Consultant Neonatologist at Monash Children’s Hospital, has been awarded $1.3 million for his research project, ‘Improving health outcomes for sick and premature infants.’  

Dr Roberts, also Head of the Newborn Lung and Resuscitation Group and Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Paediatrics at Monash University, will focus on resuscitation methods for newborns exposed to asphyxia (lack of oxygen) before birth, life-saving treatments to enhance lung function in premature infants, and the safest feeding practices for the smallest preterm infants.  

His previous work has significantly influenced international clinical guidelines in neonatal respiratory support, including the HIPSTER, HUNTER, and SHINE trials, published in the New England Journal of Medicine. With this new funding, Dr Roberts aims to identify and implement the most effective treatments for these vulnerable infants, improving their early life care and long-term health outcomes. 

Dr Roberts emphasised, “Our research will directly impact clinical practice and has the potential to save countless lives by ensuring that the most vulnerable infants receive the best possible care from the moment they are born.” 

The NHMRC Investigator Grants are among the most competitive in Australia, recognising top-performing medical and healthcare researchers. The grants received by A/Prof Wong and Dr Roberts highlight the exceptional talent and quality of research at Monash Health and underscore the institution’s commitment to advancing neonatal care.  

Their projects promise to significantly improve the health and development of preterm and sick infants, providing hope and better futures for countless families worldwide. 

Approved by Angus Henderson, General Manager, Research Strategy