A research centre based at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) has received federal funding to improve the health and development of extremely preterm infants.

The Centre of Research Excellence (CRE), led by MCRI Professor Jeanie Cheong, has secured $3 million from the National Health and Medical Research Centre (NHMRC) over the next five years.

Building on the work of the Centre of Research Excellence in Newborn Medicine, which was recognised by the NHMRC as one of the best research projects in 2023, the Extremely Preterm Infant CRE (EPIC) will advance research into newborn medicine.

Each year more than 1,300 babies are born extremely preterm (before 28 weeks' gestation) in Australia, and 567,800 babies worldwide.

"Although survival has increased eight-fold for these infants in the past 50 years, from around 10 per cent to 85 per cent, developmental disability and health problems affect at least half of surviving babies," Professor Cheong said.

Image: Professor Jeanie Cheong

"EPIC will accelerate efforts to improve long-term outcomes for extremely preterm infants with a focus on lung complications and developmental impairments, which are the most common issues affecting severely premature babies."

Professor Cheong and her team aim to undertake research that can be translated into clinical practice to ensure extremely premature babies receive improved care and a better quality of life.

Based at MCRI in Melbourne, EPIC partners include La Trobe University, the University of Melbourne, Monash University, The Royal Women's Hospital and Life's Little Treasures Foundation.

Professor Cheong said the CRE would further cement MCRI's place as world leaders in extremely preterm research and deliver a lifelong legacy to enable these vulnerable infants reach their full potential.

*The content of this communication is the sole responsibility of Murdoch Children's Research Institute and does not reflect the views of the NHMRC. CRE grant number 2035317