COVID-19 Global health research
At Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), we use existing networks and projects globally to aid COVID-19 research, including work on pneumococcal, tuberculosis, rotavirus, adolescent health, and maternal and newborn health. Our global networks enable us to assess the effects of COVID-19 in areas where we have existing partnerships.
The global work across campus also involves participation in a variety of international committees whose aims include providing expert advice and support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research
Extending existing surveillance platforms to include COVID-19
The global health work led by Professors Fiona Russell, Steve Graham, and Kim Mulholland included the surveillance of pneumonia, tuberculosis and other diseases in the Pacific and other countries. They used this existing work to include COVID-19 testing into active surveillance studies and aimed to assess the frequency of COVID-19 in these communities, plus understand the impact the virus has on clinical outcomes of the study population.
Wastewater COVID-19 surveillance in Fiji -- Completed
Professor Julie Bines aimed to explore the potential role of faecal (human waste) transmission of COVID-19 and environmental faecal contamination in Fiji by using existing programs and collaborations.
The team aimed to establish an early warning system in Fiji by assessing wastewater (faecal and environmental samples), to determine the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in the community. This had the potential to provide information to reduce COVID-19 infection in this setting and provide an efficient and sustainable method for ongoing monitoring of COVID-19 in the community.
Associated resources
- Research Network on COVID-19 for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (2023) – World Health Organisation (WHO)
Associated campus papers
- Protecting children in low-income and middle-income countries from COVID-19 (2020) – BMJ Journals
- Paediatric care in the time of COVID-19 in countries with under-resourced healthcare systems (2020) – BMJ Journals
- Who should be prioritised for COVID-19 vaccination? (2020) – Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
- Progress and Pitfalls in the Quest for Effective SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccines (2020) – Frontiers in Immunology
- Action is needed now to prevent further increases in measles and measles deaths in the coming years (2020) – The Lancet
- Intranasal corticosteroids in allergic rhinitis in COVID‐19 infected patients: An ARIA‐EAACI statement (2020) – European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
- Direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 on perinatal outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (2020) – Gates Open Research
- Global Ethical Considerations Regarding Mandatory Vaccination in Children (2021) – PubMed
Global Child Health during the COVID-19 pandemic: impact, effects and the future of child health
In this seminar, we heard from Professors Fiona Russell, Kim Mulholland, Andrew Steer and Dr Nastiti Kaswandani who described the impact of the current global pandemic on children in the Asia Pacific region, including the indirect effects, school closures, and considerations for vaccination. This was followed by a panellist discussion and Q&A. In addition to the presenters, panellists included Prof Anna Ong-Lim and Dr Rachel Devi who discussed how COVID-19 has affected children and families in their local regions.
In this seminar, we heard from Professors Fiona Russell, Kim Mulholland, Andrew Steer and Dr Nastiti Kaswandani who described the impact of the current global pandemic on children in the Asia Pacific region, including the indirect effects, school...
In this seminar, we heard from Professors Fiona Russell, Kim Mulholland, Andrew Steer and Dr Nastiti Kaswandani who described the impact of the current global pandemic on children in the Asia Pacific region, including the indirect effects, school closures, and considerations for vaccination. This was followed by a panellist discussion and Q&A. In addition to the presenters, panellists included Prof Anna Ong-Lim and Dr Rachel Devi who discussed how COVID-19 has affected children and families in their local regions.
