Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

This study looked at whether a smaller (fractional) dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster works as well as the standard dose. It involved 601 healthy adults in Mongolia who had already received two doses of Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, or Sputnik vaccines 6 to 9 months earlier.…

This study tested a home-based, dietitian-led 'egg ladder' for infants newly diagnosed with egg allergy. Over 12 months, babies gradually ate more cooked egg, starting with baked goods. The goal was to see if this approach is safe and feasible. 109 infants participated, and resea…

This study looked at whether children with cancer and a fever caused by low white blood cells can safely stop antibiotics earlier than usual. 55 children took part, and half stopped antibiotics once their fever was gone for 48 hours, while the other half continued until their whi…

This study tested a low-dose oral immunotherapy (OIT) in children aged 18-36 months with allergies to two nuts. Over 18 months, one group received daily tiny doses of the nuts they were allergic to, while the other group avoided them completely. The goal was to see if more childr…

This study tested a nose spray containing heparin, a common and safe medicine, to see if it could stop the spread of COVID-19 within households. Over 500 people who lived with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 used the spray or a dummy spray three times a day for 10 days. …

This study tested whether giving tree nuts early to infants with peanut allergy could prevent them from developing tree nut allergies. 212 babies aged 4-11 months were split into two groups: one had a supervised hospital challenge with four tree nuts followed by home introduction…

This study tested whether giving mothers a single 2-gram dose of the antibiotic azithromycin during labour could reduce the risk of skin and soft tissue infections in their babies during the first three months of life. Over 2,000 pregnant women in Fiji took part, receiving either…

This study tested whether methylphenidate, a drug often used for ADHD, can help children aged 6 to 12 with childhood apraxia of speech speak more clearly. The trial involved 18 children who took the drug or a placebo in a crossover design. The main goal was to see if the drug imp…

This study tested a steroid nasal spray (mometasone furoate) in 130 children aged 3-12 who snore and have sleep-disordered breathing. The goal was to see if the spray could relieve symptoms enough to avoid surgery to remove tonsils or adenoids. Children used the spray daily for 6…

This study tested whether cannabidiol (CBD) oil can reduce severe behavioral problems in children aged 6-18 with intellectual disability. 132 participants received either CBD or a placebo for 8 weeks. The main goal was to see if CBD improves irritability and other challenging beh…

This completed early-phase study tested a new way to study Strep A bacteria, which causes strep throat and can lead to serious heart disease. Researchers safely exposed 40 healthy adults aged 18-40 to a specific strain of Strep A under controlled conditions. The goal was to see h…