Childhood outcomes after a trial of extra protein for babies born very preterm

The Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland has a PhD project assessing childhood outcomes after early nutritional trials.

Low blood glucose in newborn babies can cause brain damage. Dextrose gel helps prevent low glucose levels, but its effect on children’s growth and development at school age is unknown.

Adequate nutrition, particularly of protein, is essential for babies born extremely preterm. Enhanced early nutrition is associated with better early growth and brain development, but it is not known if these early benefits translate into better school performance, and it is possible they may also increase later risk of obesity and metabolic disease.

This project will involve assessing growth, development and behaviour of children at 6-7 years who took part in the hPOD trial of dextrose gel, and who took part in the ProVIDE trial of additonal protein.

The objectives are:
i. To develop a screen-based assessment of cognitive, physical and behavioural skills to be administered at school in 6-7-year old children.
ii. To use this assessment to determine the relationships between early glucose levels, treatment with dextrose gel, or treatment with additional protein, and later development in the hPOD and ProVIDE cohorts.

The Liggins Institute is a world-leading centre for research on fetal and child health, nutrition, development, genome biology and translational and implementation science. Our mission is to improve life-long health through excellent research into the long-term consequences of early life events.

We work across a range of fields to view human health problems from different angles. This unique approach enables us to turn research discoveries into real strategies that will help people to prevent or manage major health problems in the 21st century.
As a research-only institute, we attract some of the best research students and clinical fellows in the world. You’ll be supported by internationally-recognised staff and you’ll benefit from state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and a dedicated clinical research unit.

We are looking for candidates with a degree or equivalent in a health or education-related discipline and a clinical background. Examples include (but are not limited to) neonatology, nursing, midwifery, paediatrics, obstetrics, developmental psychology, educational psychology, education.

Please email a cv and academic transcript to Distinguished Professor Jane Harding
Email: [Email Address Removed]