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Research

Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) are at an elevated suicide risk compared with those in the general population. This public health issue warrants further research attention to help inform the development of prevention and intervention efforts. Our study is the first to characterize suicidality (i.e., suicidal ideation/suicide attempt) and explore associated risk factors in young individuals with FASD within the Australian context.

Research

Fuelled by the tobacco industry, commercial tobacco use is a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Preventing adolescent smoking initiation is critical to reducing uptake. Understanding individual, social, and environmental factors that are protective against smoking can inform prevention strategies. 

Research

X linked hypophosphataemia (XLH) is a systemic, chronic condition that significantly impairs quality of life. In XLH, a phosphate regulating endopeptidase homologue X-linked (PHEX) gene mutation leads to excess fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), causing hypophosphataemia and subsequent rickets, lower limb deformity, pain and other sequelae, however there are likely other non-FGF23 mediated mechanisms contributing to disease

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Involvement in healthcare decisions is associated with better health outcomes for patients. For children and adolescents with intellectual disability, parents and healthcare professionals need to balance listening to a child's wishes with the responsibility of keeping them safe. 

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This study aimed to validate qPCR assays for specific microbiota, for use on dental plaque samples stored on Whatman FTA cards to compare relative oral health risk in Rett syndrome.

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There is limited but consistent evidence that suggests prenatal factors, including maternal stress, may contribute to susceptibility for otitis media. We aimed to determine the effect of multiple life stress events during pregnancy on risk of acute and recurrent otitis media in offspring at three and five years of age. 

Research

Mitochondria rely on coordinated expression of their own mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) with that of the nuclear genome for their biogenesis. The bacterial ancestry of mitochondria has given rise to unique and idiosyncratic features of the mtDNA and its expression machinery that can be specific to different organisms. In animals, the mitochondrial protein synthesis machinery has acquired many new components and mechanisms over evolution.

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Tick-associated diseases present challenges due to tridirectional interactions among host-specific responses, tick toxins and salivary proteins as well as microbes. We aimed to uncover molecular mechanisms in tick-bitten skin samples and contralateral skin samples collected simultaneously from the same participants, using spatial transcriptomics.

Research

We investigated the effects of cause of death (COVID-19 with an underlying medical condition vs. without) and prolonged grief disorder status (PGD present or absent) on participants' reported public stigma towards the bereaved.

Research

Anthony Kicic BSc (Hons) PhD Rothwell Family Fellow; Head, Airway Epithelial Research Anthony.Kicic@thekids.org.au Rothwell Family Fellow; Head,