The Albanese Labor Government is investing in the health of Australian newborns through a multi-million-dollar research project to enable life-saving interventions.
The $5.5 million in funding will allow researchers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to establish a newborn screening platform which aims to screen for hundreds of life-threatening genetic illnesses at birth.
The Government’s funding will enable a 12-month research trial of the platform which will screen 24 genetic conditions in 60,000 newborns in Queensland.
The funding will allow the screening of illnesses such as biotinidase deficiency, haemophilia, cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy and severe combined immunodeficiency.
This is part of the $600 million Medical Research Future Fund’s ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Critical Research Infrastructure Initiative, which aims to ensure Australia’s place as a world-leading medical research powerhouse with the most up to date systems, equipment and facilities.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney:
“This is game changing technology that not only has the potential to reduce diagnosis timeframes to ensure newborns receive urgent care immediately, but also ensure babies can have the best possible start in life.
“Whether it’s investing in women’s health, newborn babies or strengthening Medicare, Labor continues to champion the health of Queenslanders and all Australians”.
Quotes attributable to Associate Professor Natalie Taylor, University of New South Wales:
“We know that newborn screening genomic technologies are rapidly advancing – to ensure these have the best possible chance of producing life-changing and life-saving benefits for newborns, it’s crucial we carefully prepare the health system and work closely with our communities.
“Alongside the targeted genomic technology this project aims to introduce and sustain through MRFF critical research infrastructure investment, key research activities will involve working with healthcare, policy, program, and community stakeholders to make decisions together about new conditions to screen for, and to design care pathways that are adequately resourced for those new conditions.
“We aim to take a considered approach to implementation of this new technology that improves care for newborns now and futureproofs the health system for the continuous evolution of newborn bloodspot screening scientific advances”.
