Babies Stillborn.

Cure Kids have been instrumental in funding research that, for the first time, has shown that women who go to sleep on their back in late pregnancy are four times more likely to have a stillborn baby.

New Zealanders live with Cystic Fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetically inherited condition affecting approximately 500 New Zealanders at any given time; half of which are children. CF is a respiratory condition that, if diagnosed in the 1960’s, one would be unlikely to live past 5 years of age. Today, the average life expectancy is over 35.

Cure Kids supported pioneering research that discovered a way to diagnose cystic fibrosis in a new-born babies by using the heel prick test. This test has been adopted internationally.

Cure Kids continues to fund research into improving health outcomes for children living with CF. We are currently funding a project investigating the identification of harmful bacteria in the lungs using a breath test.

If successful, this has the potential to greatly improve care and treatment.

Childhood Cancer Research.

Cancer is a leading cause of childhood death in New Zealand, and sadly, approximately 150 children under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with some form of cancer every year. While medical advances have greatly improved the outcomes of many, there remain aggressive forms out there which are life-threatening, where even the best treatment options can impact adversely on a child’s health.

Cure Kids is supporting childhood cancer specialist, Dr Andrew Wood, who is investigating methods of treating childhood cancer more gently and with less long-term adverse effects.

Mental Health Research.

Disorders include anxiety, ADHD, autism, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders and schizophrenia.

Research shows that over half of all lifetime cases of mental illness present before the age of 14, yet 80% don’t receive necessary treatment, representing an urgent need for better care and treatment.

Cure Kids proudly funds research into mental health conditions.

Professor Sally Merry is a trained infant, child and adolescent psychiatrist, and is the Cure Kids Chair in Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the University of Auckland. She is investigating insights into the causes of mental health conditions and developing research-led treatments and prevention strategies with the aim of improving outcomes for young people and families.

Research into Childhood Obesity.

Obesity is becoming an increasingly critical health issue, especially so in children. More than a quarter of a million of New Zealand children are overweight or obese, predisposing them to long-term, adverse health outcomes including coronary, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes among others.

Research into Epilepsy.

Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological illness of children and young people; more than 450 children develop epilepsy each year. Constant seizures can lead to profound physical, psychological and social consequences for kids; and can increase anxiety and socially avoidant behaviour.

Associate Professor Lynette Sadleir is a paediatric neurologist, specialising in epilepsy. Associate Professor Sadleir and her team are studying families where several individuals have epilepsy, or where a certain child has especially severe epilepsy.

With the increasing importance of learning about the genes responsible for childhood epilepsies, this research will become critical for informing targeted treatments to help improve the quality of life of those living with epilepsy, and hopefully save the lives of the several children who die each year as a result of their epilepsy.