Resources for Journalists

Australia’s first national report on indoor air quality reveals urgent need for action

Publicly released: Tue 14 Oct 2025 at 1112 AEDT, 1312 NZDT

Professor Morawska, who was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people for her work on airborne transmission of COVID-19, leads the THRIVE Centre and is an Australian ... We need Read more about Australia’s first national report on indoor air quality reveals urgent need for action

COVID-19 causes changes in sperm that lead to increased anxiety in mice offspring

Publicly released: Sat 11 Oct 2025 at 2000 AEDT, 2200 NZDT

Nature Communications

A Florey study in mice has found that offspring conceived after a father has been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and developed COVID-19 symptoms have higher levels of ... While more research is needed, Read more about COVID-19 causes changes in sperm that lead to increased anxiety in mice offspring

Do air purifiers in classrooms help kids avoid a lurgy?

Publicly released: Sat 11 Oct 2025 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

US and Korean researchers say high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers in our kids' classrooms do not actually reduce how many viruses they are exposed to. ... The researchers looked at the Read more about Do air purifiers in classrooms help kids avoid a lurgy?

Kids may be more likely to develop long COVID after a second infection

Publicly released: Wed 1 Oct 2025 at 0830 AEST, 1130 NZDT

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

Researchers compared health outcomes following children’s first and second documented COVID-19 infections to isolate the risks associated with reinfection. ... They say the study’s findings reinforce Read more about Kids may be more likely to develop long COVID after a second infection

Popular type of yoga linked to higher rates of falls among older Australians

Publicly released: Tue 30 Sep 2025 at 1616 AEST, 1916 NZDT

Lancet Healthy Longevity

Carrying out the studyThe research team recruited 700 people aged 60 and over who did not currently practise yoga. ... to run the classes in person but, because the study took place during COVID-19, we Read more about Popular type of yoga linked to higher rates of falls among older Australians

Switch to 2-in-1 inhalers reduces children's asthma attacks

Publicly released: Sun 28 Sep 2025 at 1500 AEST, 1800 NZDT

The Lancet

However, the authors acknowledge some limitations of the clinical trial. It was undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which stringent public health measures and fewer circulating Read more about Switch to 2-in-1 inhalers reduces children's asthma attacks

Low-cost drug shows promise for patients with life-threatening respiratory infections

Publicly released: Sun 28 Sep 2025 at 0930 AEST, 1230 NZDT

eClinicalMedicine

A widely available and affordable drug has shown to be effective in treating seriously ill COVID-19 patients, according to a new study from The Australian National University (ANU). ... We know it’s Read more about Low-cost drug shows promise for patients with life-threatening respiratory infections

Coordinated action needed to reverse Australia’s declining childhood vaccination rates

Publicly released: Fri 26 Sep 2025 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Childhood vaccination rates have declined each year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. ... The power and reach of social media, the challenges raised by COVID-19 and misinformation around Read more about Coordinated action needed to reverse Australia’s declining childhood vaccination rates

Unlocking the immune system’s instruction manual

Publicly released: Wed 24 Sep 2025 at 1030 AEST, 1230 NZST

Nature Immunology

These tissues included tonsil, adenoid and blood from multiple cohorts, allowing researchers to track Tfh cells across different tissue types and timepoints – including during COVID infection and Read more about Unlocking the immune system’s instruction manual

Pioneering the next-generation ‘nano’ drug delivery system

Publicly released: Tue 23 Sep 2025 at 0927 AEST, 1127 NZST

Advanced Materials

LNPs are best known as the delivery vehicles that enabled the Pfizer–BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, protecting fragile mRNA molecules and ensuring they reach target cells. ... Their success Read more about Pioneering the next-generation ‘nano’ drug delivery system

Over 4 million more people would be alive in 2025 if they had got adequate type 1 diabetes care

Publicly released: Fri 19 Sep 2025 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)

of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), Vienna (15-19 Sept). ... Furthermore, incidence data from the COVID-19 period were excluded from part of the modelling to avoid bias. Read more about Over 4 million more people would be alive in 2025 if they had got adequate type 1 diabetes care

COVID made training inequities worse for female surgeons

Publicly released: Fri 19 Sep 2025 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

Researchers found that male trainee surgeons were already doing more surgeries than females before COVID, but that this difference got even worse during the pandemic. ... Gender disparity and the impact Read more about COVID made training inequities worse for female surgeons

EXPERT REACTION: US vaccine panel meeting to consider safety of COVID-19 and other vaccines

Publicly released: Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 1030 AEST, 1230 NZST

The draft agenda shows that they will be discussing the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine on Thursday, and the COVID-19 vaccines on Friday. ... Below, Read more about EXPERT REACTION: US vaccine panel meeting to consider safety of COVID-19 and other vaccines

Puppies not always a mental health boost

Publicly released: Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS One

Many families got a puppy during the Covid pandemic to boost their mental health, but a new study suggests this shouldn't be the main reason for getting one. ... Such hopes were behind many puppy Read more about Puppies not always a mental health boost

Long COVID associated with longer and heavier periods

Publicly released: Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature Communications

The authors also found that symptoms of long COVID increased in the peri-menstrual phase (which includes the 2 days before menstruation and all subsequent days of menstruation), suggesting a Read more about Long COVID associated with longer and heavier periods

NEWS BRIEFING: Australia's 2024 sexual health checkup

Publicly released: Mon 15 Sep 2025 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Institute and the report’s lead author, who presented the data at the conference. ... While the small increase is likely related to unusually low diagnoses during the COVID pandemic, during which there Read more about NEWS BRIEFING: Australia's 2024 sexual health checkup

Dog owners say it was harder to train dogs during the pandemic

Publicly released: Thu 11 Sep 2025 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS One

This might be due to stress in the dogs’ home environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as fewer opportunities for social interaction during lockdowns. ... Interestingly, we found that Read more about Dog owners say it was harder to train dogs during the pandemic

Mum's breastmilk changes throughout the day, and it could impact a baby's body clock

Publicly released: Fri 5 Sep 2025 at 1400 AEST, 1600 NZST

Frontiers in Nutrition

The hormones and proteins involved in circadian signaling, however, may vary in breast milk concentration over 24 hours. ... as the maturing and stabilization of the infant’s circadian rhythm,” Read more about Mum's breastmilk changes throughout the day, and it could impact a baby's body clock

Nasal vaccine offers new approach to fighting COVID-19: mouse study

Publicly released: Thu 4 Sep 2025 at 1340 AEST, 1540 NZST

Frontiers in Immunology

System. Published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology, the study tested a nasal vaccine made from the SARS-COV-2 spike protein combined with Pam2Cys, an immune-boosting compound developed at Read more about Nasal vaccine offers new approach to fighting COVID-19: mouse study

Protein discovery gives new hope for longer COVID protection

Publicly released: Thu 4 Sep 2025 at 0627 AEST, 0827 NZST

Nature Communications

A protein particle hidden within the SARS-CoV-2 virus could lead to longer-lasting, more protective vaccines for COVID-19. ... new vaccines and treatments that offered protection across multiple strains Read more about Protein discovery gives new hope for longer COVID protection