Join us for our co-hosted Healthy Development Adelaide (HDA) and Robinson Research Institute forum.

For babies born preterm, life begins with unique challenges and the earliest days can have lifelong consequences. This public forum will explore how new research is transforming our understanding of early life health and opening up new possibilities to improve outcomes for the smallest and most vulnerable babies. From large-scale South Australian population studies to advanced imaging approaches that reveal how the preterm lung develops and responds to injury, our speakers will highlight how discoveries at every level, from population to biology, are shaping better care and brighter futures. By bringing together clinical insight, population data and innovative science, this event will showcase how Robinson Research Institute research is driving meaningful change, with the shared goal of giving all babies the opportunity to thrive.

OUR SPEAKERS

Dr Jack Darby, Research Fellow, Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group and the Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide University

Turning off the danger signal: an advanced imaging approach to protect the preterm lung

Dr Darby has a background in the use of advanced fetal MRI techniques to understand how conditions such as fetal growth restriction impact fetal haemodynamics and has applied these techniques to evaluate a series of potential interventions aimed at improving fetal oxygen and nutrient supply. More recently, his research has extended beyond the womb into neonatal life, where he is utilising advanced imaging modalities to investigate the mechanisms of ventilator-induced lung injury and develop a novel intervention to improve respiratory outcomes in preterm infants.

Dr Amanda Poprzeczny, Obstetric Consultant and Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Women’s and Children’s Health Network / Clinical Academic, Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide University

Gestational age at birth and childhood outcomes in the South Australian population: how understanding our population can drive research questions to improve outcomes in SA

Dr Poprzeczny particular clinical interests include preterm birth prevention and women with maternal medical complications navigating pregnancy planning and care. She completed her PhD in 2022 and is an investigator on multiple large national and international perinatal trials and has a keen interest in translation of rigorous evidence into day-to-day practice, for the improvement of outcomes for women and their infants.

Professor Michael Stark, Medical Unit Head, Neonatal Medicine, Women’s and Children’s Hospital / Deputy Director Clinical Research and Research Leader of the Neonatal Medicine research group, Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide University

Joining up the dots - asking the right research questions to drive improvements in perinatal care

Professor Stark leads a multi-disciplinary team of clinician and basic scientists, with projects encompassing pre-clinical research, large-scale perinatal randomised controlled trials and research implementation and evaluation focusing on improving survival without neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm infants, spanning oxygen physiology, safer transfusion strategies and personalised nutrition to reduce inflammation and optimise long‑term outcomes.

OUR CHAIR

Professor Michael Stark, Medical Unit Head, Neonatal Medicine, Women’s and Children’s Hospital / Deputy Director Clinical Research and Research Leader of the Neonatal Medicine research group, Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide University

Other event information:

Networking and light refreshments will follow the session from 6.30pm.

This is a public forum and also open to the community, everyone is welcome to attend.

Contact the host of Tiny beginnings, lifelong impact: Advancing health for preterm babies

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