Issue 30, May 2009 - Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

Thank youThanks to our major supportersDonations February – April 2009 ($500 or more)ABN Amro MorgansBDO KendallsPeter CichelloLaurence G CoxPatricia CrossStephanie DempseyChris EdmondsConstantinos EmmanuelleSylvia GelmanBrian HarlandPeter & Heather HendersonHungry JacksThe Imelda & Geok Wong FoundationRose KailisKay & BurtonPeter KentLaiki Bank AustraliaLeader Community NewspapersAndrew LeesLife Property GroupLouis LoizouMacquarie Group FoundationMacquarie Private WealthAnna MinardoAshley & Joanna MurdochMy RoomNational MuscularDystrophy Research CentreTheo PapathomasGeorge PetrouPlaygroPamela SargoodBrady ScanlonSonray Capital MarketsSportsbetLarry TakisTelstraTeska CarsonAlasdair VancePro bono supportersCavill + CoCoopers BreweryGreat Golf EventsHeritage Golf & Country ClubKPMGRiver CapitalVillage Roadshow FilmsDiscovery Day donorsPlease see page 5Dame Elisabeth Centenary CirclePlease see page 6 for donor listEND OF FINANCIAL YEAR APPEALChildhood diabetes on the risein Australian kidsThe incidence of childhood diabetes in Australiahas increased by 29 per cent in the past decade,making Aussie kids among the worst affected inthe world.And it is not just diabetes threatening our children’s wellbeing.Cancer, allergy, premature birth and mental health disorders areamong the many conditions impacting youngsters’ quality of life.Please help us reach our goal of raising $100,000 by June 30.Your contribution will fund vital research to help combat conditionsthreatening the health of children like India, who suffers fromType 1 diabetes.To make your tax deductible donation, please fill out the donationform at the back of the newsletter.India, age 11 who has Type 1 diabetes2

Healthy DevelopmentNo alcohol for teens is bestfor adult healthDrinking ‘safe’ amounts of alcohol does not protect teenagersfrom developing alcohol-related problems as adults, accordingto a recent discovery by Murdoch Childrens researchers.The team, led by Dr Elya Moore, found that even those teens who kept theirconsumption within the guidelines for healthy drinking in adults had higher ratesof drinking problems 10 years on.Published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, the researchexamined the value of the Australian National Health and Medical ResearchCouncil’s guidelines for low-risk drinking in adults.Dr Moore said teen drinkers were more likely to have an alcohol-use disorder andparticipate in high-risk, alcohol-related sexual behaviour in young adulthood.“This was particularly the case for young males where drinking – even at the lowrisklevel – was found to result in risky patterns of alcohol consumption into their20s,” Dr Moore said.DID YOU KNOW?Dr Moore said the pattern in female teenagers – who typically drank less thanyoung males – was not as clear cut, suggesting further research into predictivemeasures was needed.By early adulthood 8 per centof Australians meet the criteriafor alcohol abuse while 12 percent meet the criteria foralcohol dependence.Critical Care & NeurosciencesCommon anti-clot drug less safein childrenHeparin is commonly used to prevent the formation ofblood clots. But new research has shown it is neither assafe nor as effective in children as previously thought.A literature review published in the journal Pediatrics found that while heparin’suse in adult patients is positive, use in children resulted in more frequent majorbleeding and recurring thrombosis.Senior author Professor Paul Monagle, Stevenson Chair of the University ofMelbourne’s Department of Paediatrics, said the study had refuted a long-heldassumption that heparin worked the same way in children as for adults.“We found in children that the drug is substantially different in how it interactswithin the plasma, possibly impacting on both effectiveness and safety,”Professor Monagle said.“Heparin is a very common drug given to extremely sick children who are lessable to tolerate complications, so we really need to understand the differencesin its use between adults and children,” Professor Monagle said.The study, led by nursing PhD student Fiona Newall, was a collaborationbetween Murdoch Childrens, The Royal Children’s Hospital and the Universityof Melbourne.3

Early Development & DiseasePlacenta a vitamin D gatekeeperVitamin D levels are usually tightly regulated by the liver butdouble during pregnancy. The reason why this happens isbeginning to be understood.Our researchers examined the placenta and found a key gene is turned off by smallmolecular beacons that can stick to genes and influence the way they work.Reporting their findings in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the team speculatedthat it was through this mechanism that the foetus could be assured the requiredamount of vitamin D.Co-author of the study Dr Richard Saffery said a growing foetus was unable to make itsown vitamin D, relying on its mother’s body to provide it.He said vitamin D deficiency could also result in rejection of the pregnancy and hadbeen linked to pre-eclampsia, an abnormality of the placenta resulting in high bloodpressure in the mother.Co-author Dr Jeff Craig said the finding was a small piece of the puzzle explaining theplacenta’s role as gatekeeper, with follow up studies needed to better understand themechanisms at play.Infection, Immunity & EnvironmentGood bugs in pregnancy to ward offinfant allergyGiving probiotics to women in the finalweeks of pregnancy leads to a healthy gutflora in their babies and may reduce the riskof eczema in young children.Studies have shown that giving probiotics to pregnant womenand newborns can reduce eczema by 50 per cent at two yearsof age. Giving probiotics just to babies does not have the sameaffect.Reporting in the prestigious Journal of Allergy and ClinicalImmunology, A/Professor Mimi Tang said that prenatal probioticscould prove the most successful route in promoting a healthygut flora of ‘good bugs’ in infants. Past studies have suggestedthese bugs are important in preventing the development of allergicdisease such as eczema.The study recruited 250 pregnant women whose babies were at high risk ofdeveloping allergic diseases. The women received probiotic capsules or a placebofrom 36 weeks gestation.A/Professor Tang said the results clearly demonstrated that giving probiotics to the motheralone can modify gut flora in the infant to three months of age.While probiotics are commonly found in foods such as yoghurt and fermented soy beanproducts, A/Professor Tang said giving the correct probiotic in the right dose and at theright time was critical in reducing allergic disease as different probiotic bacteria could havethe opposite effect.4

Thanks to ourdonors and probono supportersActive Kidz, Akarba Hire, ALH Group,Anaconda, Aromababy, AudioVisual Dynamics, Baby’s Got Style,BankWest, Bexton Professional,Bistro Guillaume, BMW Mornington,Bodycare Physiotherapy,Calvert-Jones Foundation,Brandon & Davina Chizik, Briner,Colgate Palmolive, ComTelCorporation, Cosi Bar Ristrorante,Crocs, Crown, Damm Fine Food,Alana Deutrom, DJ Southwick, DonnaHay, Eastern Press, Ed Dixon FoodDesign, The Fitness Generation,FOXTEL, David Gibbs & Susie O’Neill,Go For Your Life, Go Photo & Web,Goodman Fielder, Gwenda Hance,Healthy Aussie Kids, Henry Bucks,Hi-5, Jazzmin & Friends, JimjocaWinery, Kevin’s Poultry, Kez’s Kitchen,Lonesome, Lyall Hotel, McMahon’sButchers, Mountain Buggy Australia,Nourish Foods, Peninsula Portaloo Hire,Playgro, Police Pipe Band, Purebaby,Rats of Tobruk, Ready Steady Go!,Rockpool Bar & Grill, Nathan & DahliaSable, Samsung Communications Centre,Scanlan & Theodore, SES, Sam Smorgon,Snooze, SOCCERWISE ® , Sofitel Mansion& Spa, Sports Screen, Swann Group,Top Dog Management, Trunk, WesternBulldogs Football Club, Carolyn Yencken,and all our happy helpers!SPECIAL EVENTSDiscovery DayThis year’s Discovery Day at Cruden Farmwas a great success, with $100,000 raisedtowards research to help children livehappier, healthier lives.Despite early showers the weather held out as more than 2,500 people cameto enjoy the ‘Get Active!’ theme with a smorgasbord of entertainment.Among the exciting line-up were performances by Hi-5, Active Kidz, DJ Southwickand Jazzmin & Friends. Guests were also treated to roving performers, Dora theExplorer, face painting, the Anaconda rock climbing wall, craft by Spotlight, Leadernewspaper cupcake decorating, market stalls and sports clinics from SOCCERWISE ® ,Ready Steady Go! and the Western Bulldogs Football Club.Thank you to our generous sponsors, donors, supporters, event committee, happyhelpers and guests who made Discovery Day 2009 a great success. Special thanks toour patron, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE, who once again generously shared herbeautiful Cruden Farm.All proceeds from this event will fund important new research projects into conditionslike childhood allergy, cancer, obesity, diabetes and premature birth.Event committee: Fleur Arnold, Jackie Bursztyn, Romy Bursztyn, Georgie Coombe-Tennant, Alix Fletcher, Victoria Gillespie, Kate Kavanagh, Jill Murray, Susie O’Neill(co-chair), Dahlia Sable, Ellie Smorgon (co-chair), Michelle Wenzel.Dame Elisabeth Murdoch with Hi-55

special eventsCharter Mason Charity Golf Day 2009The fourth annual Murdoch Childrens Charity Golf day was heldon Monday 2 March 2009 at the Heritage Golf and Country Club,Yarra Valley.The St John course was enjoyed by all 60 guests in perfect sunny conditions. The dayraised $21,000 for our child health research.A special thank you to headline sponsor Charter Mason and also to the HeritageGolf and Country Club for hosting the day. Thanks also to competition sponsorsCharter Mason, Kay & Burton and Sportsbet and all those who participated.The team from HamtonThe team from Kay & BurtonMCRI NEWSRobert Kaye from Visy tees offDame Elisabeth Murdoch FellowshipA special research fellowship has been established in honourof Dame Elisabeth Murdoch’s 100 th birthday.To celebrate our Patron’s centenary on 8 February 2009, we invited supporters tomake a donation in her honour. With $260,000 raised, the Dame Elisabeth MurdochFellowship was established. Offered for the first time in 2010, the Fellowship will beawarded to recruit leading international researchers, bringing unique skills importantfor the development of our scientific programs. A celebratory function, hosted byKPMG, was held on 23 April in honour of this milestone.Thank you to all those who generously gave.Dame Elisabeth with Robert Bazzanifrom KPMGDame Elisabeth with Louise GourlayThe Dame ElisabethCentenary CircleMartin & Toni ArmstrongKatherine I BehrendMarc & Eva BesenDavid & Karina Calvert-JonesJames & Susannah Calvert-JonesJohn & Janet Calvert-JonesMark & Louise Calvert-JonesPeter & Joan ClemengerLeigh & Sue CliffordLaurence & Julie Ann CoxTerry & Jeanine Dwyer andMathew & Melissa CameronJane Fenton & David MilesGrant & Penny FowlerLindsay & Paula FoxThe Gandel Charitable TrustNeilma GantnerLouise GourlayPeter & Terry GriffinBill & Rea HodgsonEve Kantor & Mark WoottonJulie KantorMichael & Silvia KantorMilan & Anne KantorRobert & Mem KirbyKPMGAlasdair & Prue MacleodThe Miller FoundationMichael MilsteinRichard & Suzanne MorganLachlan & Sarah MurdochBaillieu & Sarah MyerRowly & Judy PatersonDavid Penington & Sonay HusseinLady Primrose PotterThe R E Ross TrustLady Marigold SoutheyThe Sunraysia Foundation6

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HealtH wortH?Tomorrow’s cures needyour donations todayMurdoch Childrens Research Institutehas helped thousands of Australian kidsaffected by a range of health problemsincluding genetic conditions, prematurity,gastroenteritis and cerebral palsythrough their world-class discoveries.As parents, we know our child’s health is priceless. WhichAnd now, we need your help.is why research into premature birth, asthma, allergies,obesity and depression at the Murdoch ChildrensResearch Institute is so important. Join me in supportingWith yourthe Institute,donations,because withweyourcandonationscontinuewe can continueto discoverto discover cures. It’s a small price to pay for your child’sways to help all children live happier healthy lives.health.Donate today by visiting www.mcri.edu.au or call1300 766 439.Visit www.mcri.edu.auSarah Murdoch, Ambassador.sarah ad_office_halfpage_vertica1 1 26/0

I support a healthier futurefor children.Name __________________________________________________Address _________________________________________________Suburb ___________________ State______ Postcode __________Phone (H) ____________________ (W) ________________________Email ___________________________________________________YES! I would like to make a donation of $__________________to life saving child health researchc Please find my cheque attached orc I authorise a single deduction from my credit cardMastercard c Visa c Bank Card c Diners cAMEX c Security code __________ (AMEX only)Card number: |__|__|__|__| |__|__|__|__ | |__|__|__|__| |__|__|__|__|Expiry date: ____ /____Name on card: ___________________________________________Signature: _______________________________________________YES! I would like to join the dollar a day pledge programc I authorise regular deductions from my credit carduntil further notice$1 a day c $30/month or c $360/year$5 a day c $150/month or c $1,800/year$10 a day c $300/month or c $3,600/yearMastercard c Visa c Bank Card c Diners cAMEX c Security code __________ (AMEX only)Card number: |__|__|__|__| |__|__|__|__ | |__|__|__|__| |__|__|__|__|Expiry date: ____ /____Name on card: ___________________________________________Signature: _______________________________________________Call 1300 766 439 to make a credit card donation by phone.Donations over $2 are tax deductible.Reply Paid 1100Murdoch Childrens Research InstituteThe Royal Children’s HospitalFlemington RoadParkville Victoria 3052 AustraliaPhone 1300 766 439Fax +61 3 9348 1391www.mcri.edu.auABN: 21 006 566 972 Discovery Newsletter Issue 30, May 2009