ACORN project

Project overview

The Anaesthetic and Pain Management Research team will be working with paediatric clinicians, GP’s, anaesthetists, patients and family members to identify the key focus areas for future research in Down Syndrome/Trisomy 21 and Chronic Pain patients.

In two separate streams and through a series of online surveys and a consensus workshop, we will work with consumers to compile their top 10 priorities. These research priorities will guide our future projects in PCH and the wider anaesthetic and clinical care of patients.

We will also disseminate these lists more broadly to our national and international paediatric colleagues. These research priorities lists have the potential to change the future of research and clinical care for these patients.

Project aims

Final decisions for ACORN project

To work with consumers and clinicians to identify the top 10 clinical research priorities for children living with Trisomy 21/Down Syndrome and children living with chronic pain.

Current studies

  • ACORN T21
  • ACORN Pain

Recruiting in 2022

  • ACORN 21 Follow up Consumer and clinician surveys will be open in Q4 2022
  • ACORN Pain Initial Consumer and clinician surveys will be open in October 2022

Project researchers

  • Prof Britta von Ungern-Sternberg, Perth Children’s Hospital, the University of Western Australia and The Kids Research Institute Australia.
  • A/Prof David Sommerfield, , Perth Children’s Hospital and the University of Western Australia
  • Dr Mon Ohn, Perth Children’s Hospital and the University of Western Australia
  • Prof. Helen Wilcox, General Practitioner, The University of Western Australia
  • Dr Ellen Taylor, Perth Children’s Hospital
  • Dr Susan Humphreys, Queensland Children’s Hospital and University of Queensland
  • Prof Andreas Schibler, Queensland Children’s Hospital and University of Queensland
  • Dr Kenneth Lee, University of Western Australia
  • Dr Fiona Taverner, Women and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia.
  • Dr R Nazim Khan, Biostatistician School of Mathematics and Statistics, UWA
  • Dr Laura Burgoyne, Women and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia
  • Dr Justin Hii, Royal Children’s Hospital, Victoria
  • Aine Sommerfield, Clinical Research Manager, PCH and The Kids Research Institute Australia
  • Michaela Rajarathnan, Research Assistant, PCH and The Kids Research Institute Australia

Partners

  • The Kids Research Institute Australia
  • University of Western Australia
  • Down Syndrome WA
  • Women and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide
  • Queensland Children’s Hospital and University of Queensland
Last Updated: 25/10/2024