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The Wesfarmers Centre is pleased to announce the successful applications for the 2017 Round 2 Wesfarmers Centre Seed Funding. The Wesfarmers Centre
Research
Awake and Alert: Examining the Portrayal of Energy Drinks on TikTokEnergy drinks (EDs) are not recommended for minors' consumption due to a myriad of health risks, but marketing initiatives persist. This study explored the promotion of EDs on TikTok, a platform frequented by children and adolescents.
Research
Healthy and Sustainable Diet Index: Development, Application and Evaluation Using Image-Based Food RecordsThere are limited methods to assess how dietary patterns adhere to a healthy and sustainable diet. The aim of this study was to develop a theoretically derived Healthy and Sustainable Diet Index.
Eight applicants were successful, and were awarded $15,000 each for activities supporting subsequent research grant applications.
In 2014, the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines & Infectious Diseases put out a first call for seed funding proposals.
Research
Neonatal Docosahexaenoic Acid in Preterm Infants and Intelligence at 5 YearsDocosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a component of neural tissue. Because its accretion into the brain is greatest during the final trimester of pregnancy, infants born before 29 weeks' gestation do not receive the normal supply of DHA. The effect of this deficiency on subsequent cognitive development is not well understood.
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Macronutrients in Human Milk and Early Childhood Growth—Is Protein the Main Driver?Infant growth trajectories reflect current health status and may predict future obesity and metabolic diseases. Human milk is tailored to support optimal infant growth. However, nutrient intake rather than milk composition more accurately predicts growth outcomes. Although the role of protein leverage in infant growth is unclear, protein intake is important for early infancy growth.
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Allergen shedding in human milk: Could it be key for immune system education and allergy prevention?In addition to being a source of nutrients for the developing newborn, human milk contains thousands of bioactive compounds, which influence infant health in the short-term as exemplified by its major benefits on infectious disease prevention. Many of the human milk compounds also have the required characteristics to instruct immune development and guide long-term health.
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The relationship between meal carbohydrate quantity and the insulin to carbohydrate ratio required to maintain glycaemia is non-linear in young people with type 1 diabetes: A randomized crossover trialTo determine if the relationship between meal carbohydrate quantity and the insulin to carbohydrate ratio (ICR) required to maintain glycaemia is linear in people with type 1 diabetes.
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Effectiveness of Foodbank Western Australia’s food sensations® for adults food literacy program in regional AustraliaFood Sensations for Adults, funded by the Western Australian Department of Health, is a four-week nutrition education program focused on food literacy, with demonstrated success amongst Western Australians. In the last two years, 25% of programs have been in regional and remote areas and therefore the aim of this research is to explore the impact of the program in regional areas.
Research
Energy drink intake is associated with insomnia and decreased daytime functioning in young adult femalesTo investigate the association between energy drink (ED) use and sleep-related disturbances in a population-based sample of young adults from the Raine Study.

Preventing over half of the world’s ear infections with a therapy such as Spritz-OM will significantly improve health and educational outcomes on a global scale.
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Maternal and umbilical cord androgen concentrations do not predict digit ratio (2D:4D) in girls:Digit ratio (2D:4D) is widely used as a marker of prenatal androgen exposure
Research
Hepatic iron loading in mice increases cholesterol biosynthesisIron and cholesterol are both essential metabolites in mammalian systems, and too much or too little of either can have serious clinical consequences

News & Events
WA Health funding supports development of rapid test for antibiotic-resistant skin infections in Aboriginal childrenA rapid test to detect antibiotic-resistant skin infections in Aboriginal children could be a step closer, thanks to support from the FHRIF.

News & Events
World-first trial to seek child-specific treatments for dangerous bloodstream infectionsThe Kids Research Institute Australia, Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) will spearhead the paediatric arm of a world-first global platform trial designed to uncover treatments for Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection.

News & Events
Early ear infections linked to higher risk of future problems: studyResearchers have found kids who experience repeat ear infections in infancy have a much higher risk of ongoing problems with ear infections in later childhood

News & Events
Round one done, eight to go for the SToP TrialSix weeks, nine community visits and 380 kids – it’s a wrap for round one of the StoP Trial!

News & Events
Flu study gives vital early protection to bubs this winterThe FluBub Study will investigate whether giving the flu vaccine much earlier than the six months currently recommended by the National Immunisation Program will protect babies at the greatest risk of a severe influenza infection when they are most vulnerable.

News & Events
New tool guides families on RSV immunisationResearchers from the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, based at The Kids Research Institute Australia, have launched an online guidance tool designed to help families and health-care providers in WA learn the best way to protect babies and young children against life-threatening respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).