For more than 40 years, the BrightSpark Foundation has supported over 300 researchers in WA and distributed more than $10 million in research funding. Browse our featured research stories below, related to children’s health topics that have been supported by the BrightSpark Foundation and our partnering organisations. This funding support has enabled researchers and clinicians to conduct research, collaborate with international experts, and disseminate research knowledge – all in the effort to improve health outcomes for children.
Facial features as a potential biomarker to assist early identification and intervention of autism
Dr Diana Tan is a Research Associate in the School of Psychological Science at The University of Western Australia. Dr Tan’s research examines early markers of autism, in seeking to better understand factors that impact
How does maternal immunisation affect childhood health?
Dr Regan is a Research Fellow in the School of Public Health at Curtin University who specialises in the disciplines of epidemiology of communicable diseases, health promotion, infectious diseases, pregnancy, and perinatal and maternal health.
Modelling mitochondrial dysfunction in disease
Dr Tara Richman is a biochemist and cellular biologist with Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, The University of Western Australia. She was awarded a Raine Priming Grant (BrightSpark Fellow) in 2018 to further understand
Alcohol-related harm in young people
Dr Melissa O’Donnell is a psychologist and research associate with the Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia. She was awarded a Raine Priming Grant (BrightSpark Fellow) in 2017 to investigate alcohol-related harm in
Impact of heatwave exposure on pregnancy outcomes
Dr Gavin Pereira is a perinatal epidemiologist, environmental health researcher, and biostatistician with the School of Public Health, Curtin University. He was awarded a BrightSpark Research Collaboration Award in 2017 to examine the effects of
Understanding the impact of vitamin D deficiency on asthma
Dr Brad Zhang was awarded a 2012-2014 BrightSpark Fellowship to investigate factors impacting allergy and asthma development in childhood. His research project proposed to examine the complex interactions between genetic, environmental and epigenetic determinants of
Supporting a new program aimed at preventing and treating diabetes in aboriginal communities
The Unity of the First People of Australia are a not-for-profit organisation and in 2002 and 2006 received funding from the BrightSpark Foundation in support of their community based program known as the Diabetes Management