SIDS and Sleep Apnoea Research Group
This page is a research page. For clinical information, please view our sleep and respiratory service page on the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network website.
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The SIDS and sleep apnoea research unit is the research arm of the sleep and respiratory clinical service based at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. We conduct research on obstructive sleep apnoea, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), sleep disorders in children with neurodisability, and other breathing problems in children.
Objectives
Our aim is to optimise sleep and breathing in children with complex problems such as obesity, endocrine problems or who have developed issues following surgery or treatment for other conditions. We conduct clinical research to increase our understanding of sleep disorders in infants and children, the effectiveness of treatment interventions, and outcomes for children with sleep disorders.
Impact
- We have identified a potential biomarker for infants dying from SIDS to support future research pathways that could reduce the risk for SIDS in infants.
- We are leading a study to evaluate types and prevalence of sleep disorders in children with neurodisability.
- We are developing early screening and detection systems for obstructive sleep apnoea in infants, especially those born prematurely.
- Our SIDS research is recognised internationally for the evaluation of neuropathological changes that occur in infants who die from SIDS to better understand the mechanisms responsible.