The Lotteries Commission/Women and Infants Research Foundation Perinatal Research Laboratories are housed on the main campus of The University of Western Australia and have been operational since the beginning of 1999.

The cost of construction of the Laboratories, and purchase of many of the state-of-the-art scientific instruments that are used by researchers working within this facility, was supported by grants awarded to the Women and Infants Research Foundation by the Lotteries Commission.

Current research studies include investigations into:

• the developmental origins of health and disease
• fetal responses to intrauterine inflammation and its effects on development of the fetal brain and lungs
• strategies to best improve preterm infants’ chances of survival and wellbeing
• strategies for understanding fundamental aspects of fetal development

This outstanding level of research output has resulted in The Lotteries Commission/Women and Infants Research Foundation Perinatal Research Laboratories and its associated centres having an international reputation which rivals that of any other institution, either in Australia or overseas, where research of this type is conducted.

Dr Graeme Polglase
Manager,
Lotteries Commission/Women and Infants Research Foundation Perinatal Research Laboratories
School of Women's and Infant's Health
The University of Western Australia
gpolglase@meddent.uwa.edu.au