CASE STUDY increasing survival, free of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in extremely preterm infants
With
Professor Brett J. Manley, Consultant Neonatologist
Mercy Hospital For Women, Melbourne &
Professor of Neonatal Medicine,
Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health,
University of Melbourne, Australia
Kate Francis, Biostatistician (Snr Research Officer)
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne &
Honorary Research Fellow,
Department of Paediatrics,
University of Melbourne &
Affiliate Biostatistician, The Royal Children’s Hospital,
Melbourne, Australia
Professor Christopher Reid, Chair
Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA) &
School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University &
School of Population Health at Curtin University,
Western Australia
CASE STUDY
Filmed in Melbourne & Perth, Australia | May 2026
Negative results in a clinical trial can be extremely valuable — both scientifically and ethically. A “negative result” usually means the treatment being tested did not work better than the standard treatment, placebo, or expected outcome.
The aim of the PLUSS trial was to find out if installation of budesonide (a steroid) with surfactant to the lungs of extremely preterm babies helps to prevent lung disease, or Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
BPD is a chronic inflammatory lung disease characterised by disordered alveolar and vascular development, most commonly affecting extremely preterm infants exposed to mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). BPD is associated with mortality, and adverse long-term pulmonary and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Despite advances in neonatal care including antenatal corticosteroids, exogenous surfactant, and the increasing use of non-invasive respiratory support, the incidence of BPD has increased in the state of Victoria in 2005 compared with earlier eras.
Extremely preterm infants participating in the trial were monitored closely after birth and an assessment completed at 36 weeks to check for BPD. Participating infants were also followed up when they are two years old.
The trial was led by a team of researchers at the Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne and the Liggins Institute in Auckland, New Zealand and had 29 participating centres around the world.
In 2025 the PLUSS Trial received the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA) Trial of the Year 2025 Award as well as the ACTA STInG Excellence in Trial Statistics Award2025.
Source: Adapted from plusstrial.org website
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Novel silk-based biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
Dr Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina is a Scientia Associate Professor and ARC Future Fellow leading a multidisciplinary group at the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW Sydney in Australia.
Her research interests are at the interface of biology and engineering, focusing on the development of biomimetic materials that direct cellular interactions for enhanced vascularisation and for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. In particular, she develops novel silk-based biomaterials and investigates how biomaterial properties translate to biological outcomes.
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At the frontier of human cellular neuroscience research
Associate Professor Cedric Bardy is the Director of The Laboratory for Human Neurophysiology, Genetics & Stem Cells, located at SAHMRI. South Australia.
His current research uses preclinical, patient-derived cell models to test innovative therapeutic strategies, with a current focus on Parkinson’s disease, brain cancer and childhood dementia (Sanfilippo syndrome).
His work has established a platform to facilitate the discovery and validation of treatments for brain disorders. Their research is at the frontier of human cellular neuroscience research and translational applications that benefit global public health.
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Iodine in pregnancy on baby brain and nervous system development
Dr Karen Best is Senior Research Fellow in the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) Women and Kids Theme. She is a Registered Midwife with a unique breadth of experience in clinical project management, academic skills and knowledge translation and is committed to better understanding the essential role that modifiable exposures in pregnancy play in setting the foundations for a healthy start to life.
