Inflammation is the driver of most newborn disease, particularly in preterm babies. Early diagnosis of the underlying cause of inflammation in newborns is difficult and there are limited safe and effective treatments. The Nold team is developing novel diagnostics and treatments to close this gap for vulnerable newborns. 

Overview | Inflammation in newborns

Preterm delivery exposes 13.4 million babies worldwide and around 26,000 in Australia to serious early-life diseases every year. Inflammation is a major driver of newborn disease and is of critical importance in 13 of the 16 leading causes of death for children under the age of five worldwide. Newborns who survive are at risk for a range of short and long-term disabilities.

The Nold group of clinicians and scientists aim to better understand how inflammation drives newborn and early-life diseases of the premature heart and lung such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), pulmonary hypertension associated with BPD (BPD-PH) and necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) affecting the immature gut.

Their goal is to generate novel immunological insights in the field of newborn and early-life disease, which will assist in the design of new diagnostic techniques and underpin the development of innovative anti-inflammatory drugs. The mission is to advance in the care of infants and children, making a life-long difference to the lives of vulnerable infants.

“Our goal is to progress the development of safe and effective therapies that give pediatric patients a chance for the healthy and happy future they deserve.” Professor Claudia Nold

Areas of focus

• Novel anti-inflammatory therapies to improve child health
• Diagnostic innovations for preterm babies, our tiniest patients

Collaborators

A/Prof	Andrew Ellisdon	Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne	Australia
Professor	Alex Veldman	Department of Pediatrics, St. Vincenz Hospital, Limburg	Germany
Professor	Phil Hansbro	Centre for Inflammation, Centenary Institute and University of Technology, Sydney	Australia
Professor	Jose Polo	Adelaide Centre for Epigenetics, University of Adelaide.	Australia
Dr	Gergely Toldi	Liggins Institute, University of Auckland	New Zealand

Links

Twitter

Research Group

• Dr Ina Rudloff, Research Scientist
• Dr Christine Bui, Honorary Research Associate
• Dr Michael Christie, Honorary Research Associate
• Dr Nadia Deen, Honorary Research Associate
• Marie Lee, Research Support Staff
• Esteban Pinto, Research Support Staff
• Sara Di Simone, PhD Student
• Steven Garrick, PhD Student
• Josephine Owen, PhD Student
• Briana Peterson, PhD Student
• Dr Ralley Prentice, PhD Student
• Holly Ung, PhD Student
• Dr Elly Green, PhD Student
• Abby Boppana, Honours Student