Search
Research
Estimating the impact of Western Australia's first respiratory syncytial virus immunisation program for all infants: A mathematical modelling studyThe Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the use of nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody for the prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), in November 2023. Western Australia (WA) implemented a combination of nirsevimab administration strategies designed to protect all infants starting in April 2024, before the epidemic season. We developed a dynamic transmission model to predict the impact of WA's RSV immunisation program on infant hospitalisations.
Research
Enhancing Protection against Influenza and COVID-19 for pregnant women and medically at risk children: EPIC StudyPregnant women are 3 times more likely to die from COVID-19 and over 7 times more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit with influenza compared to non-pregnant women.
Research
Haemophilus influenzae remains the predominant otitis media pathogen in Australian children undergoing ventilation tube insertion in the PCV13 eraUnderstanding patterns of bacterial carriage and otitis media (OM) microbiology is crucial for assessing vaccine impact and informing policy. The microbiology of OM can vary with geography, time, and interventions like pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs). We evaluated the microbiology of nasopharyngeal and middle ear effusions in children living in Western Australia, 11 years following the introduction of PCV13.
Research
Dornase alfa as an adjunct therapy to treat chronic ear infectionsChris Glenn Lea-Ann Peter Ruth Brennan-Jones Pearson Kirkham Richmond Thornton PhD BA (Education) PhD Candidate PhD MBBS MRCP(UK) FRACP PhD Head, Ear
Research
Healthy Ears Clinical Trial: A telehealth-facilitated randomised-controlled trial utilising a health promotion intervention to resolve otitis media with effusion for children won specialist Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) waiting listsA telehealth-facilitated randomised-controlled trial utilising a health promotion intervention to resolve otitis media with effusion for children won specialist Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) waiting lists
Research
Microbiological and immunological factors predicting surgical outcomes for chronic otitis mediaLea-Ann Peter Ruth Kirkham Richmond Thornton PhD MBBS MRCP(UK) FRACP PhD Co-Head, Bacterial Respiratory Infectious Disease Group; Microbiology Lead,

News & Events
National funding for bright ideas targeting ear infections and dangerous fungiTwo projects led by The Kids Research Institute Australia have been awarded more than $2.5 million to fund innovative ideas focused, respectively, on combating persistent ear infections and investigating how dangerous fungi invade the bodies of immunocompromised people.
Research
Improved diagnosis, treatment and prevention of recurrent tonsillitisStrep A causes over 775 million infections each year world-wide, including over 615 million cases of tonsil infection (Strep throat).

News & Events
Local business to support Aboriginal ear health programEvery year 650,000 Australian children suffer from recurrent or chronic middle ear infections called otitis media (OM).

News & Events
$35 million to develop vaccine with potential to save half a million lives per yearA vaccine to prevent rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and other life-threatening conditions caused by the common Strep A bacteria is a step closer thanks to funding announced by Minister for Indigenous Health, Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, in Perth today.