We have a range of studies that make up our Breathing for Life Trial which collectively, help us to improve the health of pregnant women with asthma and their babies.
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You can participate in one or more of our studies to help us gather a wider understanding of the effects of asthma on pregnancy and on children.
This study investigates this observation further to allow us to develop nutritional advice for pregnant women with asthma.
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This study is open to women between 12 and 22 weeks of pregnancy who have been diagnosed with or have symptoms of asthma, use regular asthma medication and are over 18 years of age.
This study is no longer recruiting.
Pregnancy Study
This study investigates into the best way to use your asthma medication during pregnancy and the impact this has on your baby’s health.
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A simple breath test called FENO (fractional exhaled nitric oxide) may help doctors in better managing asthma during pregnancy. Using this test may help to decide the right dose of preventer medication you need to maintain control of your asthma.
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Controlling your asthma during pregnancy in this way may have additional benefits for your baby's health. This study investigates the relationship between the management of a mother's asthma and the health of her newborn infant and child.
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This study is not currently recruiting.
Child Lung Health Study
Asthma develops in 1 out of every 6 children in Australia. We know that a family history of asthma is an important reason why some children develop asthma.
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This study looks at whether events which happen in pregnancy or early life play a role in the development of bronchiolitis in babies and asthma in childhood in children born to mums with asthma. Learning more about how asthma develops helps us find ways we can prevent asthma, it can also help us find better treatments for asthma.
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We are currently following up children born to mothers within the Breathing for Life Pregnancy Study at the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) in Newcastle.
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This follow-up includes an allergy test and various lung function tests. These tests can often be difficult to access elsewhere and will show us if your child's lungs are working properly, valuable information whether your child is asthmatic or not. If your child is over the age of 4 or 6 you will be hearing from our study team soon.
Child Development Study
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Investigating the developmental profile of children whose mums had asthma during pregnancy and recommending early interventions, if needed.
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In the BLT Infant Development Study, we profile the first and second years of development of infants whose mums had asthma during pregnancy and compare them to infants of mums without asthma. This will allow us to see whether there are differences in development and how they can be prevented or remedied. This research will help clinicians plan appropriate clinical services to meet the developmental needs of these infants.
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We will then follow-up the development of preschool aged BLT children in our Preschool Minds Study, further helping us to better understand child development across the first five years of life with particular focus on social, communication, movement and behavioural skills. We are also interested in how parents' mental health and wellbeing may relate to children's social communication skills.
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We are currently following up children born to mothers within the Breathing for Life Pregnancy Study at the University of Newcastle Callaghan Campus.
Bushfire smoke exposure during pregnancy and epigenetic changes in offspring
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This study investigates whether exposure to bushfire smoke during pregnancy or in early life interacts with the child's genes by a process called epigenetics, changing the likelihood for the development of bronchiolitis in infancy and asthma in childhood.
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Breathing for Life Pregnancy Study participants are currently being offered the opportunity to participate in this follow-up study.
