Precision Newborn Health

These babies, born early or with complicated medical conditions, are often at high risk of having major problems with their health and development throughout their life, with many needing ongoing paediatric care and then adult care.  

Thanks to support from the Good Friday Appeal, the RCH has been able to establish a dedicated research program, known as the Precision Newborn Health Program.   

This innovative research program commenced in 2022 and is working towards improving precision in predicting infants at high risk of health and developmental problems. The program also aims to create personalised intervention programs targeted at those most at risk to improve their outcomes. 

Professor Jeanie Cheong, Program Lead for the Precision Newborn Health Program, explained the program would help build a healthier future for babies cared for on Butterfly.  

“We aim to predict neurodevelopment, feeding and motor problems, and severe lung disease, which are common outcomes across all high-risk infant groups, and carry significant burden to these children and their families.   

“Through better prediction of which infants are at highest risk of long-term poor health and developmental outcomes, we will be able to target support to those who are most at risk, which means more streamlined care and better outcomes.”   

In the first two years of the program, Jeanie and her team made steady progress.   

The team has refined data analysis and modelling programs to better predict developmental outcomes for babies born extremely preterm. They have also started the same research for preterm babies who are at risk of lung disease and babies who have had surgery. Additionally, they have partnered with parents and health practitioners to design an early intervention program targeted at children from age two.  

Jeanie is grateful for the community’s support through the Good Friday Appeal in making this program possible.   

“On behalf of the babies, children and families, I thank all the supporters of the Good Friday Appeal for their support in the Precision Newborn Health initiative. This will make a substantial contribution to improving their lives.” 

Impact Milestones

April 2022 – March 2023

•  In the first year of the program, a steering committee and working groups were established to oversee and lead the program.   
• Staff were appointed, including two program managers.   
• A web page has been developed to keep stakeholders updated with the progress of the program.   
• The team began refining data analysis and modelling programs to better predict health and developmental outcomes for babies born extremely preterm. They started the same research for babies who have had surgery.  
• They partnered with parents and health practitioners to design an early intervention program targeted at children from age two. 

April 2023 – December 2024

• The steering committee and working groups continue to meet regularly to oversee and lead the program. 
• The program team is now well established and is strengthening collaborations with the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Melbourne, the Centre for Health Analytics at the RCH, and the Royal Women’s Hospital.  
• The team have developed data modelling to better predict developmental outcomes for babies born extremely preterm, with similar work underway for preterm babies at risk of lung disease and babies who have had surgery.  
• They have partnered with parents and health practitioners to design an early intervention program targeted at children from age two. They have identified a lack of easy to access reputable information for families of high-risk babies and will fill this gap by developing a digital platform.