Researchers from Telethon Kids Institute are joining forces with international experts in acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) to transform the diagnosis of these diseases thanks to an $US8 million grant from the Leducq Foundation.

Australian researchers have uncovered a new form of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – undetectable using traditional laboratory testing methods – in a discovery set to challenge existing efforts to monitor and tackle one of the world’s greatest health threats.

The Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases (based at Telethon Kids Institute) is working to deliver better ear health outcomes for all kids. Working in partnership with the Aboriginal community in south metro Perth, families are seen through the Djaalinj Waakinj (listening and talking) program while our microbiologists work in the lab to discover better prevention and treatment for otitis media (middle ear infections).

Extremely preterm infants, born less than 28 weeks gestation, account for 75% of newborn death and disability. Can topical coconut oil reduce late-onset sepsis in extremely preterm infants? Researchers across Australia and New Zealand are participating in the COSI-2 trial to evaluate the effect of coconut oil when used for skin care in extremely preterm infants on the development of sepsis.