WOMBAT Newsletter
    June 2007


Welcome to the June issue of WOMBAT News.

This monthly update will be a regular source of important information on WOMBAT workshops, events and other news.

In this issue:

WOMBAT MEETINGS / WORKSHOPS

Further information available on the WOMBAT website " Conferences" page


August 2007, Adelaide
WOMBAT Collaboration Workshop: Designing a protocol for a maternal or perinatal RCT
August 2 – 3

Education Centre, Level 2, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 72 King William Rd North Adelaide
For details contact Rebecca Tooher: Rebecca.Tooher@adelaide.edu.au

Participants will work through the development of a protocol for a randomised trial and at the end of the workshop will have completed a basic plan for the design and conduct of the trial. No prior experience is necessary; however, if possible, participants should bring to the workshop a clinical question which could be worked into a trial protocol.
 

August 2007, Townsville
Women's & Babies Health and Wellbeing - Improving Outcomes
Thursday August 9

Hosted by the Northern Education Branch of the Neonatal Nurses of Queensland Association

Workshop details available soon on the WOMBAT website
For details contact Rebecca Tooher: Rebecca.Tooher@adelaide.edu.au


Decision Aids Seminar
Sydney
Preliminary date: Thursday 27th September
Further details available soon on the WOMBAT website
 

OTHER MEETINGS / WORKSHOPS

Further information available on the WOMBAT website " Conferences" page

June 2007, Online
GOLD07: Online Lactation Discussion Conference
June 25 - July 2

The GOLD07 Conference is an international online conference for those interested in breastfeeding and lactation issues. At an international online conference delegates attend sessions from presenters around the world from their computer. You don't need anything special, except a sound card in your computer and a connection to the internet - even dial-up will be OK. An inexpensive headset would make the experience more personal, and a microphone will allow you to ask the presenter questions during question time, though you could just as easily type in your question.

Early bird registrations have opened already. Full registration is from May 21. Our goal in making this conference happen is to give as many people as possible access to the world's best speakers. Should the conference make a profit, the profits will be donated to breastfeeding supportive organisations.

For programme information and registration details: http://www.goldcon07.com 


July 2007, Brisbane
Symposium for Australasian Review Authors 2007
July 12-13

Each year the Australasian Cochrane Centre hosts a meeting for Australasian contributors to the Cochrane Collaboration. This year, to coincide with the major update to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the release of RevMan 5, we will be hosting a Symposium for Australasian review authors in Brisbane.


July 14
Developing a Protocol for a Systematic Review Workshop

For programme information and registration details: http://www.cochrane.org.au/symposium/symposium.php


August 2007, Melbourne

Australian Breastfeeding Conference
Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre
August 2-4

Hot Milk is the Australian Breastfeeding Association’s largest ever National Conference.

  • It aims to bring together supporters on Breastfeeding and the Australian Breastfeeding Association nationally and internationally

For programme information and registration details: http://www.lrc.asn.au/hotmilk/


ASPOG
33rd Annual Scientific Meeting: ‘Talking Women’s Business’
Rydges Carlton Hotel, Melbourne
August 10 – 11
For programme information and registration details: www.aspog.org.au

Clinical Research Excellence 07
August 17 - 19
Delegates will have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of sessions which directly relate to their expertise, experiences or general interest in Clinical Research.

For programme information and registration details: http://www.crx07.com/Program.htm

September 2007, New Zealand
Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) Annual Scientific Meeting
Christchurch Convention Centre
September 7-8
The Australasian Diabetes Society is a professional body established to advance clinical and scientific knowledge of diabetes in pregnancy, to encourage dissemination of this knowledge and to foster collaboration with other regional societies interested in diabetes in pregnancy. It is also involved in the development of health policy regarding diabetes in pregnancy at the National and State levels.
www.adips.org

September 2007, Japan
XXth Asian and Oceanic Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AOCOG2007)
"New Tide in Obstetrics and Gynecology"
Tokyo
September 21-25
www.ics-inc.co.jp/aocog2007/

September 2007, Sydney
International Clinical Trials Symposium
September 23 - 26
Hosted by the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre (University of Sydney)
Will appeal too many, including clinical triallists, clinical researchers, biostatisticians, academics, pharmaceutical professionals, data managers, medical specialists, clinical educators, consumer advocates, and research nurses.

The Symposium will provide a forum for exchanging ideas on practical aspects of undertaking trials research, translating trial results into best practice and presenting research.

Go to the symposium site for updates: www.clinicaltrials2007.com
Or for further details email: info@clinicaltrials2007.com

September 2007, Canberra
Australian College of Midwives 15th biennial conference
September 25 - 28
Our program is a mixture of exciting international, national and local speakers with a large smattering of hands-on workshops, all designed to make us better midwives for the women and babies with whom we work. We also have a strong theme of the arts to heighten our senses and increase our understandings and a fabulous social program to pamper our always-busy, always-giving selves.
For programme information and registration details: http://www.congresswest.com.au/midwives2007/index.html

October 2007, London
ISA 2007: 3rd Annual conference of the International Stillbirth Alliance
October 1-4
For programme information and registration details: http://www.isa2007.org/

October 2007, Gold Coast
RANZCOG
October 2-5
For programme information and registration details: www.ranzcog2007asm.com.au

October 2007, Melbourne
National Research Ethics Conference
October 16-18
The Conference seeks to promote debate about the ethical dimensions of human research.

This conference provides an additional opportunity to provide information about the new National Statement. The National Ethics Application Form is being revised to take account of the new National Statement, and will be available before the end of 2007.

For programme information and registration details: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/ethics/conference.htm

November 2007, Perth
5th International Congress on Developmental Origins of Health & Disease (DOHAD)
November 6 - 10
DOHaD is emerging as one of the most significant forms of international research in determining the prevention and treatment of many child and adult illnesses. This year, there will be a strong emphasis on the political and economic implications for emerging nations.

By attending, you will gain access to some of the highest quality research currently in progress.

For further information and registration details go to http://www.congresswest.com.au/dohad/

November 2007, Adelaide
Women's Hospitals Australasia & Children's Hospitals Australasia
November 12 – 16
'Responding with Style to Changes in Lifestyle'
Women's Hospitals Australasia & Children's Hospitals Australasia hold a joint conference each year at a different location in Australia and New Zealand. We welcome attendance from health professionals, health service managers, academics and others involved or interested in the health and welfare of women, children and babies.

For further programme information and registration details:
http://www.wcha.asn.au/index.cfm/spid/1_27.cfm 

November 2007, Sydney
Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (SOMANZ)
Clinical Refresher and Annual Scientific Meeting, Manly Pacific, Sydney
November 16-18
www.somanz.org

Festschrift for Professor David Henderson-Smart OAM, University of Sydney
November 22
Symposium 9am – 5pm
Dinner 7 pm
Email: atupai@perinatal.usyd.edu.au


FUTURE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
2008
April, Gold Coast
Australian College Neonatal Nurses Association Annual Conference
Sunday 20th April
For further details go to ACNN website: www.acnn.org.au
Or download preliminary announcement


Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand Annual Congress
April 20 – 23
Further details coming soon

NEW TRIALS REGISTERED

Further information available on the WOMBAT website "Perinatal Trials" page

1. Diet and exercise in pregnancy: weighing pregnant women to achieve ideal weight gains in pregnancy. ACTRN012607000272493. Not yet recruiting
 

NEW TRIAL PUBLICATIONS

Dodd JM, Ashwood P, Flenady V, Jenkins-Manning S, Cincotta R, Crowther CA. A survey of clinician and patient attitudes towards the use of progesterone for women at risk of preterm birth. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2007;47:106-9

Morley CJ, Davis PG, Doyle LW, Brion L, Hascoet JM, Carlin J, for the trial collaborators. A randomised controlled trial of nasal CPAP or intubation and ventilation for very preterm infants at birth: the COIN trial. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health 2007;43:A39 [A64] (PSANZ 2007) 

Moss JR, Crowther CA, Hiller JE, McPhee AJ, Jeffries WS, Willson KJ, Robinson JS for the Australian Carbohydrate Intolerance Study in Pregnant Women (ACHOIS) Trial Group. Costs and consequences of treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus – evaluation from the ACHOIS randomised trial. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health 2007;43:A28 [A39] (PSANZ 2007) 

Omari TI, Haslam RR, Lundborg P, Davidson GP. Effect of omeprazole on acid gastroesophageal reflux and gastric acidity in preterm infants with pathological acid reflux. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 2007;44:41-4

Travadi J, Simmer K, Ramsay J, Doherty D, Hagan R. Patent ductus arteriorus in extremely preterm infants receiving phototherapy: Does shielding the chest make a difference? A randomized, controlled trial. Acta Paediatrica 2006;95:1418-23

 

TRIALS NEEDING NEW CENTRES/RECRUITS

PROGRESS

Progesterone After Previous Preterm Birth for the Prevention of Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome

The aim of the study is to answer the question does vaginal progesterone therapy in women with a previous spontaneous preterm birth reduce the risk of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome?

Primary hypothesis

The administration of progesterone to women with a history of previous birth will

  • reduce the risk of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome

Secondary hypotheses

Administration of progesterone to women with a history of previous spontaneous preterm birth will

  • reduce the risk of morbidity from neonatal lung disease;
  • reduce the risk of morbidity from other adverse outcomes for the infant;
  • reduce the risk of maternal morbidity without adverse effects of therapy

For further details contact Pat Ashwood:  progress@adelaide.edu.au or download flyer 
 

USEFUL LINKS/NETWORKS

www.somanz.org

SOMANZ: the Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand. The Society aims to advance clinical and scientific knowledge of hypertensive diseases and medical disorders in pregnancy and to foster collaboration with other regional and international societies interested in hypertension in pregnancy and obstetric medicine.

SOMANZ – so good we named it twice! In 2004 a new society called ANZSOM (Australian and New Zealand Society of Obstetric Medicine) was formed after the amalgamation of ASSHP (Australasian Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy) and OMGA (the Obstetric Medicine Group of Australasia).

Due to the similarity of the name to other societies it was necessary to rename the organisation SOMANZ – the Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand. All previous members of ASSHP and OMGA became automatic members of the newly formed Society and subscription notices have been sent inviting them to renew their membership.
Membership of SOMANZ is open to any person who is engaged in research or in practice of the broad field of hypertension in pregnancy or obstetric medicine, or who has demonstrated particular interest in this area.

Health Knowledge Network
A group in Melbourne has received a 12-month grant from the Helen MacPherson Smith Trust to provide a health knowledge transfer service.

Visit the website at http://www.latrobe.edu.au/cochrane/hkn.html  or register to receive regular email bulletins
Contact: Helen Dilkes h.dilkes@latrobe.edu.au
 

COURSES

Victorian Public Health Research and Education Council (VPHREC) courses: www.vphrec.com.au/news

Education - Award Course
August 13

Specialist Certificates in Clinical Research: (Informatics & Analysis) and (Biomedical Research Management)
 

FURTHER INFORMATION

For more information on WOMBAT initiatives, please visit our website: http://www.wombatcollaboration.net

or contact the WOMBAT Collaboration national co-ordinator

The WOMBAT Collaboration is funded through a NHMRC enabling grant.