Description
Women who are at risk of delivering a preterm baby are given antenatal glucocorticoids to mature the lungs of the fetus before birth. However, this life-saving therapy can also impair the development of the brain and other organs. After birth, glucocorticoids are also used as anti-inflammatory agents to help wean preterm babies off ventilatory support, with similar adverse effects on the brain and other organs. This project will trial exciting new steroids in animal models of preterm birth to determine if they mature the fetal lungs and reduce postnatal lung inflammation, without adverse impacts on other organs.
Essential criteria:
Minimum entry requirements can be found here: https://www.monash.edu/admissions/entry-requirements/minimum
Keywords
preterm birth, preterm babies, glucocorticoids, corticosteroids, respiratory distress, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, ventilation, brain injury
School
School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health / Hudson Institute of Medical Research
Available options
PhD/Doctorate
Honours
BMedSc(Hons)
Time commitment
Full-time
Top-up scholarship funding available
No
Physical location
Monash Medical Centre Clayton
Co-supervisors
Prof
Tim Cole