Clinical research

Many Liggins researchers have dual appointments as practising clinicians. This enables them to follow groups of children and young people as they grow and to assess potential health risks that could be associated with their pre-birth environment or treatments during the neonatal period. Randomised controlled trials and observational studies are carried out either in hospitals or in the Liggins’ purpose-built clinical research unit. All clinical studies are approved by the Northern Regional or multi-site ethics committees.

The clinical research unit at the Liggins institute is a fully-equipped, four-bedded facility which allows complex metabolic studies to be performed, primarily on children, young people and their families.

The unit’s facilities include:

• DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scanner that allows measurement of body composition in children and adults to determine the relative amounts of fat and lean tissue. It is also the most accurate way to measure bone mineral density
• peripheral QCT (Quantitative Computed Tomography) scanner which precisely measures cortical bone density, the most accurate index of actual bone density and strength. This tool can be used in infants, children and adults.
• equipment to perform sophisticated cardiovascular assessments including regular blood pressure, 24 hr ambulatory blood pressure and metabolic exercise studies.

The unit is quiet and child-friendly and is available for approved external users. For further details please contact paykelcru@auckland.ac.nz

The unit was built, equipped and operates thanks to a substantial gift from the late Maurice Paykel and Mrs. Agnes Paykel. It was officially opened in 2005 by Dame Silvia Cartwright (then) Governor General of New Zealand.

Clinical research team
The unit is staffed by a friendly team comprising: paediatric endocrinologists, paediatricians, paediatric and research nurses and administration staff. Also working within the unit are paediatric fellows, PhD and masters students.

Principal research investigators:
Professor Wayne Cutfield, Director
Associate Paul Hofman, Deputy Director

Current projects
The following clinical research studies are currently taking place in the Paykel Clinical Research Unit:

• Childhood effects of exposure to repeat doses of antenatal corticosteroids
• Long-term consequences of accelerated growth in preterm and growth restricted newborns
• Studies on glucose metabolism in adults who were born preterm and in their offspring
• Assessment of pituitary function in children who sustained traumatic brain injury (TBI) in infancy
• Effects of exercise during pregnancy on maternal insulin sensitivity and the fetal outcomes
• Evaluation of children born following in vitro fertilization (IVF) or ovulation induction
• The effect of intranasal spray in preventing or delaying the onset of type 1 diabetes
• Natural history study of type 1 diabetes - screening relatives of people with type 1 diabetes
• Clinical trials.

From time to time members of the public are invited to participate in trials conducted in the unit.
To find out more or to express your interest, please contact: paykelcru@auckland.ac.nz

We are currently looking for subjects who are:

• relatives of type 1 diabetics
• children aged 4-10 years who were conceived following ovulation induction and naturally conceived children in the same age groups.

Clinical researchers at the Liggins are investigating ways to improve clinical care for small and preterm infants during the vulnerable neonatal period and improve their long-term health outcomes. Clinical research includes involvement in large, multi-centre international randomised controlled trials (RCTs), as well as locally conducted RCTs.

Neonatal clinical research team
The neonatal clinical research team comprises neonatal paediatricians, neonatal nurse practitioners, neonatal nurses, dietitians, clinical research fellows and PhD students.

Principal research investigators:
Prof Jane Harding
A/Prof Frank Bloomfield
Dr Jane Alsweiler

Current projects
Trials in progress or development and led by the team include:

• Treatment and long-term implications of hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose concentrations) in preterm newborns
• Definition, diagnosis and management of neonatal hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose concentrations) in the newborn
• Use of continuous glucose monitoring for management of hypo- and hyperglycaemia in the newborn
• Relationships between blood glucose concentration and cerebral function
• Novel approaches to optimise ventilation practices and reduce chronic lung disease in extremely preterm babies
• Long-term consequences of fetal anaemia and intra-uterine transfusion
• Childhood outcomes following repeat antenatal glucocorticoids
• Neonatal outcomes following hyperemesis gravidarum
• Growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes following optimisation of protein intake in extremely low birth-weight babies

Families whose babies have been through neonatal intensive care units are frequently invited to participate in follow-up studies of perinatal care. To find out more or to express interest, please contact Associate Professor Frank Bloomfield.
Email: f.bloomfield@auckland.ac.nz