Preventing stillbirths

Impact Seed Funding for Early Career Researchers

Australia is one of the safest places in the world for a baby to be born, yet stillbirth is relatively common with one in every 135 babies that reach the mid-point of pregnancy not surviving to birth.

It’s a devastating reality for more than 2,000 Australian families each year, and for a third of these deaths the cause remains unknown.

With a heartfelt desire to prevent stillbirths, molecular biologist Dr Anya Arthurs in FHMRI's Pregnancy, Health and Beyond Laboratory at Flinders University, has studied a possible cause – the ageing of the placenta.

Connected to the developing baby by the umbilical cord, the placenta provides essential oxygen and nutrients until the baby is born. When a pregnancy goes beyond the expected 40 weeks gestation or the placenta ages prematurely, the placenta can degrade and no longer sustain the baby.

In a world-first study, thanks to an Impact Seed Funding for Early Career Researchers grant, Dr Arthurs investigated the cause of this ageing and has uncovered some important evidence.

“This grant has made a world of difference to my career and will contribute to the safety and wellbeing of babies,” says Dr Anya Arthurs.

She says, “The data suggests that specific circular RNA molecules in ageing placenta bind with DNA to cause damage that likely results in stillbirth.”

This significant discovery not only advances our understanding of stillbirths, but also offers hope for preventing them in the future.

“I’m now targeting circular RNA molecules from the study to reduce the DNA damage and prevent stillbirth. I’m also investigating how these circular RNAs could be used to detect pregnancies at risk of stillbirth – so they can be closely monitored and, if necessary, the baby can be delivered early,” says Dr Arthurs.

Imagine a future without the pain and devastation of stillbirth. Dr Arthurs’ research is bringing us one step closer to this reality.

Grateful for the community’s support, Dr Arthurs says, “From the bottom of my heart, thank you. The Impact Seed Funding enabled me to complete critical experiments for my research study that I otherwise would never have been able to complete.”

Impact Seed Funding grants provide essential support to emerging researchers like Dr Arthurs, enabling them to tackle critical issues that affect us all. However, to continue this vital program we need your help.

You can provide critical support for our early career researchers to explore new ground in research that changes lives and improves our community.

100% of your tax-deductible donation will support the work of emerging researchers through Flinders University’s Impact Seed Funding grant program.

Donate today

^{Published May 2024. Author: Lynda Allen.}

Flinders University Logo

Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042

South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online