Three questions with one of our leading neonatal researchers Dr Tobias Strunk

Consultant Neonatologist at King Edward Memorial Hospital, Dr Tobias Strunk is a mid-career researcher who is also a Clinical Professor at the University of WA Medical School and Head of Neonatal and Life Course Health at the Telethon Kids Institute. 

In partnership with Neonatal Immunologist Dr Andrew Currie, Dr Strunk is leading the Neonatal Infection and Immunity Group, a multidisciplinary group that works across a number of institutions. Their work includes leading several large, international cohort studies and clinical trials that focus on identifying new ways to diagnose, prevent and treat infections in the most vulnerable patients, especially those born preterm. 

Dr Strunk regularly presents at national and international conferences and has received many awards for his work, including from the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases. He is a member of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand and an associate member of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. Over the last six years Dr Strunk has transitioned from laboratory-based research into leading clinical trials.

Dr Strunk said his collaboration with Dr Currie and the complementary skills within their team is key to their successful and productive research partnership.

We posed three questions to Dr Strunk about his research work.

What research achievement are you proudest of?

I am proudest of our work with coconut oil for several reasons. Firstly we identified an urgent need to find a product we could use on the skin of our preterm infants. There was no licenced product available and in fact some of the mineral oil products used previously were found to be harmful, especially is our smallest and most vulnerable patients. Our work showed that coconut oil was not only safe but it improved skin condition and may reduce the risk of infection. I’m proud we translated this work quickly. It took us less than a year to do the background work required to start a trial. We finished the first coconut oil trial ahead of schedule partly because most of our families were very keen to participate. Six months after finishing the trial and analysing the data, we were able to introduce it within our neonatal intensive care unit as part of routine practice. We now have a simple intervention that’s effective in improving the baby’s skin condition and is also very affordable. We’ve also learnt along the way there are other benefits for families from this positive and meaningful interaction with their babies beyond the primary purpose of improving the baby’s skin condition.
 
I am also proud we did not stop there. After two years of routine practice using coconut oil, we reviewed our data and recognised that our infection rates (late-onset sepsis) were lower. We also know the coconut oil contains many beneficial fatty acids that are directly active against bacteria that reside on the skin. We have now designed a large multi-centre trial which is funded and will commence soon to evaluate if the application of coconut oil to extremely preterm babies’ skin can reduce sepsis.  

Why are you passionate about research?

I am a very curious person and like to ask questions to understand how and why things work and why they are not working. Research allows me to address questions that are important to the outcome of our patients and families. While I love being a clinician, conducting research, especially with the focus on translation, offers me the opportunity to make a difference on a larger scale. 

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Firstly, find a mentor. Find someone more senior than you who believes in you and sees your potential and what you can grow into.
 
Secondly dare to dream and think big and not be held back by fear. 

Finally build a team around you that you enjoy working with everyday, and be prepared for that process to take time.