WOMBAT Newsletter
    August 2009


Welcome to the August 2009 issue.

In this issue:

WOMBAT WORKSHOPS

**Sydney (November)**

Independent Data Monitoring Committees: An Interactive Workshop

Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney
13 November 2009  9.30-4.00

Aim
To build capacity in the maternal and perinatal research community and knowledge of data monitoring and relevant committees.

Workshop faculty

Professor Caroline Crowther, The University of Adelaide
Professor Val Gebski, NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney
Dr Lisa Askie, NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney
Ms Philippa Middleton, The University of Adelaide
Professor Jonathan Morris, Royal North Shore Hospital, University of Sydney
Associate Professor David Osborn, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney
Dr Rebecca Tooher, The University of Adelaide

For more information or to register, contact: Dr Rebecca Tooher, WOMBAT Education Officer.
Email: rebecca.tooher@adelaide.edu.au  
Ph: 08 8161 7660

ALL TRIALS REQUIRING COLLABORATING CENTRES

New international trial

The WOMAN (World Maternal Antifibrinolytic Trial) Tranexamic Acid for the Treatment of Postpartum Haemorrhage: An International Randomised, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial. ISRCTRN76912190
thewomantrial@Lshtm.ac.uk  or http://www.trialscoordinatingcentre.lshtm.ac.uk/

A*STEROID: Australasian Antenatal Study to Evaluate the Role Of Intramuscular Dexamethasone versus betamethasone prior to preterm birth to increase survival free of neurosensory disability: a randomised controlled trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email pat.ashwood@adelaide.edu.au   

APTS: Australian Placental Transfusion Study
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email lsebastian@ctc.usyd.edu.au  

A study of Aminophylline for infants less than 12 months of age with bronchiolitis, requiring admission to intensive care
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email carmel.delzoppo@rch.org.au

BOOST II: Benefits of Oxygen Saturation Targeting Study
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email boost2@ctc.usyd.edu.au

Cervical occlusion in women with cervical insufficiency
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email deemccormack@hotmail.com or visit the trial homepage: www.cervicalocclusion.com   

CHIPS Trial: Control of Hypertension in Pregnancy Study
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or http://www.utoronto.ca/cmicr/chips/  or contact Jennifer Menzies at chips@cw.bc.ca   

DETECT: Ductal Echocardiographic Targeting and Early Closure Trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email mkluckow@med.usyd.edu.au  

Fetal Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) Doppler to time second and subsequent transfusions for women with red cell alloimmunisation: a randomised trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email Jodie.dodd@adelaide.edu.au  

GAS Study: A multi-site randomised controlled trial comparing bupivacaine (regional) anaesthesia versus sevoflurane (general) anaesthesia for effects on neurodevelopmental outcome and apnoea in infants scheduled for unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernia repair
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email suzette.sheppard@mcri.edu.au  

IDEAL: Investigation of dietary advice and lifestyle for women with borderline gestational diabetes
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email ideal@adelaide.edu.au

PLUTO: Percutaneous Shunting for lower-urinary tract obstruction
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or visit http//www.pluto.bham.ac.uk or email Prof Mark Kilby at m.d.kilby@bham.ac.uk

PPROMT Trial: Preterm Pre-Labour Rupture of Membranes Close to Term Trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email ppromt@med.usyd.edu.au  

PROGRESS Trial: Progesterone after previous preterm birth for the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email progress@adelaide.edu.au

TBS: Twin Birth Study
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or www.utoronto.ca/miru/tbs
or email tbs@sw.ca

TIPPS: Thrombophilia In Pregnancy Prophylaxis Study: a muticentre, multinational randomised controlled trial of prophylactic low molecular weight heparin in high-risk pregnant thrombophilic women
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or http://www.healthypregnancy.ca  or email amclement@ohri.ca

TWINS: Timing of Birth at Term – a randomised controlled trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or http://www.health.adelaide.edu.au/og/research/mpctu.html or email twins@adelaide.edu.au

WOMBAT NEWS

Brisbane Protocol Development Workshop in August
A very successful workshop was held in Brisbane on the 6th and 7th August, 2009. Potential Queensland trialists joined to discuss and develop their trial using the Wombat protocol workbook. Eleven protocols were presented at the workshop.
http://wombatcollaboration.net/doc/WOMBAT_Protocol_Workbook.pdf

Wombat Regional Co-ordinators monthly teleconference
The co-ordinators held a very productive teleconference on August, 23rd. It is anticipated that the teleconferences will continue on a monthly basis, using Skype. We discussed establishing contact networks within each state, designed to assist potential trialists located in regional centres. More about this in future newsletters.

Independent Data Monitoring Committees (IDMCs) – also see workshop details
Most RCTs require an IDMC to be formed. WOMBAT has set up a register of people willing to sit on an IDMC in maternal and perinatal healthcare. If you are interested in joining the register or would like to mentor/be mentored as an independent data monitoring committee member, please contact Georgie Stamp (WOMBAT National Coordinator) georgie.stamp@adelaide.edu.au

WOMBAT Website Interest
For the latest randomised trials in maternal and perinatal health, go to:
www.wombatcollaboration.net/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=18
This tab also has a link to the:
(ANZCTR) Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ( http://www.anzctr.org.au ) is an on-line register of clinical trials being undertaken in Australia and New Zealand. While all Australian maternal and perinatal trials are listed on the WOMBAT website, ANZCTR provides additional information about study design and eligibility criteria.

WOMBAT PROFILE

Last month, Wombat welcomed Glenda Hawley as the new Queensland Co-ordinator. Glenda is a Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife and holds a Diploma in Nursing Management and a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health. Glenda has worked extensively in the Northern Territory, both in Darwin and the indigenous community of Wadeye. She has also worked both in the UK and the USA. Glenda has a long history at the Mater Hospitals in Brisbane and before making the transition to the Mater Mother's Research Centre, worked in Paediatric Diabetes Research.
Glenda has a particular interest in epidemiology, antenatal care and Aboriginal health. Glenda is anticipating completing her masters in public health in the near future.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF AUSTRALIAN MATERNAL AND PERINATAL TRIALS

The TRIGR Study Group. Study design of the Trial to Reduce IDDM in the Genetically at Risk (TRIGR). Paediatric Diabetes 2007: 8 117-137. 

Pennell CE, Henderson JJ, O’Neill MJ, McCleery S, Doherty DA, Dickinson JE. Induction of labour in nulliparous women with an unfavourable cervix: a randomised controlled trial comparing double and single balloon catheters and PGE2 gel. BJOG 2009: published Online www.bjog.org 
 

PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST

Rao S,  Srinivasjois R, Patole S. Prebiotic supplementation in full-term neonates. Review Article. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2009, 163(8): 755-764. 

Srinvasjois R, Rao S, Patole S. Prebiotic supplementation of formula in preterm neonates: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Original Article. Clinical Nutrition. 2009, 28: 237-242.

CONFERENCES RELEVANT TO MATERNAL AND PERINATAL HEALTH
 

2009 NATIONAL CONFERENCES

The Australian Lactation Consultant Association (ALCA) National Conference "Breastfeeding: A Key Public Health Issue"
Canberra ACT.
September 4-6 2009.
For more information visit http://alca.asn.au/   

Substance Use - Advances in Perinatal Research, Education & Care Conference
Pavillion Function & Conference Centre, Breakfast Creek, QLD 
September 21, 2009, 8.30am-4.30pm
 Download Program Registration form available soon.
For more information: http://www.psanz.com.au/default.aspx  or email kate.reynolds@mater.org.au 

Australian College of Midwives 16th Biennial Conference: "Women & Midwives - A Brilliant Blend"
Adelaide, SA
September 22-25 2009.
For more information: http://www.midwives.org.au   and click on Events 

Australia and New Zealand 6th Health Services & Policy Research Conference "Health Services Research – Reforming, Responding, Rewarding"
Brisbane, QLD
November 25-27 2009
For more information: http://www.healthservicesconference.com.au/registration.html 

Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (SOMANZ)
2009 Annual Scientific Meeting
 Auckland, New Zealand.
October 30 – November 1 2009.
For more information: http://www.somanz.org/annual.htm    or email sneylon@racp.edu.au

2009 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

XIX FIGO World Congress of Gynaecology and Obstetrics
Cape Town, South Africa
October 4-9 2009.
For more information: www.figo2009.org.za/announcements/First%20Announcement%20Final%201.pdf 

 

1st Cochrane Nursing Care Network Symposium
Singapore
October 9-10 2009
Download registration form here

 

17th Cochrane Colloquium
 Singapore
October 11-14 2009-06-23
For more information: http://www.colloquium09.com/index.shtml

 

The 9th World Congress of Perinatal Medicine
 Berlin, Germany
October 24-28, 2009.
For more information: www.wcpm9.org
 

6th World Congress on Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
 Santiago, Chile
November 19-22, 2009.
For more information: http://www.mrc.soton.ac.uk/dohad/index.asp?page=71

2010 Conferences

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting
Adelaide, SA
21-24 March 2010
For more information: http://www.ranzcog2010asm.com.au/ 

14th Perinatal Society of Australia & New Zealand (PSANZ) Congress
28-30 March 2010
Wellington, NZ
*Submission of Abstracts close 30th October 2009*
For more information: http://www.psanz.com.au/default.aspx  

3rd Biennial Breathing New Life into Maternity Care: multidisciplinary conference
 (Australian College of Midwives in conjunction with Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine)
1-4 July 2010
Alice Springs, NT
*Submission of Abstracts close 2nd November 2009 *
For more information: www.breathingnewlife.remark.com.au 

ISA (International Stillbirth Alliance) and ISPID (International Society for the Study and Prevention of Infant Death) Joint Conference - Precious lives: global collaboration in stillbirth and infant death
8-10 October, 2010
Sydney, Australia
For more information: www.isaispid2010.com  

2010 International Conferences

International Chair [Conference] Francine Gooris, "Quality in Midwifery: Good practice in care and education"
 Gent, Belgium
February 25-26, 2010.
For more information: http://project.arteveldehs.be/leerstoelfg/index.asp  

 

International Forum on Quality and Safety in Health Care
Nice, France
April 20-23 2010
Abstracts close 21 Sept 2009
For more information: http://internationalforum.bmj.com/  

 

7th International Conference of Neonatal Nursing 2010.
 Durban, South Africa
October 24–27 2010.
For more information: http://www.coinnurses.org/coinn_conf/2010_int_neonatal.htm

 

16th International Congress of the International Society of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Venice, Italy
October 28-31 2010.
For more information: http://www.ispog2010.com  

Further Information

For more information on WOMBAT initiatives, please contact the WOMBAT Collaboration national coordinator, Dr Georgie Stamp: georgie.stamp@adelaide.edu.au 

The WOMBAT Collaboration is funded through a NHMRC enabling grant.

If you would prefer to stop receiving WOMBAT newsletter, please send your email with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line to unsubscribe@wombatcollaboration.net.