Reproductive carrier screening – the past, present and future
Reproductive carrier screening involves testing individuals to identify risk of having children with autosomal an X linked recessive conditions.
Clinical
From rotavirus discovery to development of the RV3-BB vaccine to prevent rotavirus disease in babies from birth
The discovery of rotavirus as the most common cause of acute dehydrating diarrhea at the Royal Children’s Hospital and University of Melbourne in 1973 provided hope for prevention of a major cause of death in young children worldwide. Building from this discovery, MCRI researchers have dedicated 5 decades to understanding the rotavirus and to the development and implementation of rotavirus vaccines.
Mind the Gap: Accessibility, communication and patient wellbeing
This Grand Round highlights the experience of people with disability in healthcare. Drawing on her own journey and patient stories, Hannah explores the barriers created by inaccessible communication and bias, and the impact these have on wellbeing.
Behaviours of concern: An innovative wraparound approach
Children with developmental disabilities often present to hospital with behaviours of concern, creating complex challenges for emergency departments, inpatient units, and community teams. These behavioural crises can be distressing for patients, families and staff, and can strain hospital resources – yet they also offer powerful opportunities for system change.
The state of global child health in 2025
Professor Kim Mulholland will draw on four decades of working with the World Health Organization, and discuss the state of global health for children, and where it may go in the future.
WHY QI? Smarter care, improving patient outcomes in Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
Outcomes for patients with Cystic Fibrosis have improved dramatically over the years. The CF Team will share some of the quality improvement work that has resulted in significant improvements in outcomes for these patients at RCH.
The science of change enhancing evidence-based practice through Implementation Science
Significant time, effort and resources are spent developing rigorous evidence-based health care guidelines. Unfortunately, not enough of these endeavours result in patient benefit. Implementation science, the study of methods to promote the systematic, widespread uptake of research findings and evidence-based practices into routine care to improve health outcomes, offers an approach to optimise the uptake of evidence-based practice.
Adaptive platform trials for rare disease populations
BANDICOOT is an international adaptive platform trial (APT) designed to identify effective therapies that improve health outcomes for critically ill children receiving a haematopoetic stem cell transplant (HCT). Building
on extensive engagement with patients, their parents, and clinicians, we will launch 3 trial domains focused on exercise, nutritional supplementation, and the gut microbiome
To prevent the unpredictable
Mental health risk assessments have always been a challenge, even for the most experienced clinicians. Risk assessment involves understanding not just the severity of the reported symptoms but the underlying motivations and the psychosocial circumstances.
NAIDOC Week — The Next Generation: Strength, Vision, and Legacy
This year’s NAIDOC theme is The Next Generation: Strength, Vision, and Legacy. Drawing on these words, Commissioner Meena Singh will discuss her work at the Commission for Children and Young People, the importance of hearing and acting upon the voices of Aboriginal children and young people, and how ensuring their safety, and supporting their growth, means we are investing in our future.