SIDS & Sleep Apnoea Group
Heads of laboratory:
This laboratory undertakes basic science research relating to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sleep Apnea in childhood. The main fields of research include: neuroscience, histology and neuropathology, and physiology. This is the only laboratory in Australia currently performing neuropathological studies aimed at identifying differences in brain markers in infants who have died suddenly, to identify differences between SIDS and non-SIDS cases. The goal of this research is to help elucidate the mechanism causing SIDS deaths. The strengths of this research include our access to a large infant dataset where both brain tissue and clinical information is available through collaboration with the Forensic Institute in Glebe. The size of the dataset and the information available allows us to investigate for clinical correlations with pathological findings.
In parallel, we work with an experimental model of intermittent hypercapnic hypoxia. This model provides opportunities to assist in the exploration of the clinical conditions of both SIDS (risk factors) and sleep apnea during early development. Physiological studies have included changes in control of breathing and the investigation of how metabolic and inflammatory mediators change after exposure to intermittent hypoxia.
