Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) Associate Professor Amanda Gwee has received federal funding to improve the treatment of a flu-like illness that can be deadly for children with weakened immune systems.
Associate Professor Gwee was awarded a Clinical Trials Activity Grant from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to investigate whether the standard medication for cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease could be better applied in young children.
All children with CMV disease currently receive a standard dose of the antiviral medicine ganciclovir to treat their infection, an approach that has remained unchanged for three decades.
Associate Professor Gwee said her team's adaptive, multi-centre trial would use a web app to personalise this therapy, with each child's dosage of ganciclovir based on their weight and kidney function (confirmed via blood test).
Image: Associate Professor Amanda Gwee
"A CMV infection rarely causes major problems, but for children with a weakened immune system this infection can lead to complications like chronic lung disease, vision impairment, liver failure and even death," she said.
"This grant will ensure that we can adapt the dosage and optimise the use of intravenous ganciclovir to not only treat CMV effectively in children but reduce side-effects and negative impacts to the immune system."
Associate Professor Gwee said the study would also find ways to reduce the overall cost to families whose children were undertaking treatment.
"By determining ideal dosage through a simple app, this study will help to reduce the financial burden of prolonged CMV treatment and help affected children feel well much sooner," she said.
