Resources for Journalists

A new database of everything we know about COVID-19 shows promise for future pandemics

Publicly released: Tue 24 Jun 2025 at 1540 AEST, 1740 NZST

Nature

A new database of everything we know about COVID-19 shows promise for future pandemicsCOVID-19 may seem well and truly in the past, but another deadly pandemic is a question ... who need to understand Read more about A new database of everything we know about COVID-19 shows promise for future pandemics

Road crash injuries are on the rise in Australia - how can we stop them?

Publicly released: Thu 19 Jun 2025 at 1143 AEST, 1343 NZST

Case Studies on Transport Policy

records. “We found between 2011 and 2019, crash-related hospitalisations rose steadily, only falling briefly during 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdowns,” says Dr Soltani. ... If we want to reduce the Read more about Road crash injuries are on the rise in Australia - how can we stop them?

New pathway for mRNA drug delivery shows shape of things to come

Publicly released: Mon 16 Jun 2025 at 1416 AEST, 1616 NZST

Small

Lipid nanoparticles have emerged as critical platforms for drug and gene delivery, with the success of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines highlighting their potential. ... One of the major challenges in nanomedicine Read more about New pathway for mRNA drug delivery shows shape of things to come

Electroshock therapy may reduce suicide risk by a third in severely depressed patients

Publicly released: Fri 13 Jun 2025 at 0805 AEST, 1005 NZST

Neuroscience Applied

The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global mental health is still being assessed. ... In contrast to ECT — which has been in clinical use since the 1930s — rTMS and VNS are relatively new Read more about Electroshock therapy may reduce suicide risk by a third in severely depressed patients

Australian children’s screen time soars to 9 hours daily

Publicly released: Thu 12 Jun 2025 at 1840 AEST, 2040 NZST

Current Psychology

34 hours – a dramatic increase from 2017 pre-COVID data showing 6. ... The researchers called for early intervention strategies including parent education and school-based programs. Read more about Australian children’s screen time soars to 9 hours daily

Real-time study to reveal crucial facts about persistent illnesses post-COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 12 Jun 2025 at 1134 AEST, 1334 NZST

As Australia heads into the winter COVID-19 and influenza surge, a major study is recruiting people with current flu-like symptoms. ... For this study, we want to recruit 1500 Australians who are Read more about Real-time study to reveal crucial facts about persistent illnesses post-COVID-19

Severe forms of COVID-19 infection in children may increase cardiovascular disease risks

Publicly released: Wed 11 Jun 2025 at 1139 AEST, 1339 NZST

Journal of Proteome Research

However, COVID-19 causes heart damage in some adults, and an Australian and international study of 147 children in the US shows evidence that children with COVID-19 and MIS-C ... With over 750 million Read more about Severe forms of COVID-19 infection in children may increase cardiovascular disease risks

'Missing link' in blood clotting mechanism that wreaks havoc on the small blood vessels of major organs

Publicly released: Fri 6 Jun 2025 at 1218 AEST, 1418 NZST

Nature

Australian scientists have uncovered the 'missing link' in the way the small blood vessels in the body can become blocked in many conditions, including heart attacks, stroke, sepsis and severe Read more about 'Missing link' in blood clotting mechanism that wreaks havoc on the small blood vessels of major organs

Discovery harnesses mRNA in the search for an HIV cure

Publicly released: Fri 6 Jun 2025 at 1217 AEST, 1417 NZST

Nature Communications

The study, published in Nature Communications, shows that mRNA can be delivered via lipid nanoparticles (the same technology used in COVID-19 vaccines) to reach HIV-infected cells and force the Read more about Discovery harnesses mRNA in the search for an HIV cure

Offering COVID-19 booster vaccinations alongside influenza vaccinations could reduce hospitalisations and deaths

Publicly released: Mon 2 Jun 2025 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

Researchers used mathematical models to compare scenarios where COVID-19 vaccines were delivered at different times of the year and concluded that even though COVID-19 is not seasonal like influenza, Read more about Offering COVID-19 booster vaccinations alongside influenza vaccinations could reduce hospitalisations and deaths

Earlier measles vaccine could help curb global outbreak

Publicly released: Fri 30 May 2025 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

The Journal of Infectious Diseases

School-aged children are the key transmitters of the virus, so preventing infections during childhood is critical to limiting the disease spread and advancing measles elimination efforts,” he said. Read more about Earlier measles vaccine could help curb global outbreak

COVID infections tied to rare neurological condition, mRNA vaccines reduce risk

Publicly released: Thu 29 May 2025 at 1432 AEST, 1632 NZST

Vaccine

Guillain-Barré syndrome after COVID-19 vaccines or SARS-CoV-2 infection. ... Auckland, 29 May 2025 – A new multinational study analysing data from over 230 million people across 20 global sites Read more about COVID infections tied to rare neurological condition, mRNA vaccines reduce risk

First-ever DNA mapping of NSW estuaries provides new tool for fisheries management and species recovery

Publicly released: Wed 28 May 2025 at 0600 AEST, 0800 NZST

Environmental DNA, or eDNA, is similar to the technology employed to detect COVID fragments in wastewater during the COVID-19 pandemic. ... This baseline is already being put to the test. Dr De Read more about First-ever DNA mapping of NSW estuaries provides new tool for fisheries management and species recovery

What does long COVID look like in young children?

Publicly released: Wed 28 May 2025 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Pediatrics

Characterizing Long COVID Symptoms During Early ChildhoodAbout The Study: This cohort study identified symptom patterns and derived research indices that were distinct between the 2 age groups Read more about What does long COVID look like in young children?

RSV appears riskier for your heart than COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 23 May 2025 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

People hospitalised with Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are more likely to have a serious heart problem related to the virus than those hospitalised with COVID-19, according to international Read more about RSV appears riskier for your heart than COVID-19

NEWS BRIEFING: The health of teens and young people could be going backwards 

Publicly released: Wed 21 May 2025 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

The Lancet

Bringing together 44 Commissioners and 10 Youth Commissioners, the Commission stated while adolescents make up 24 per cent of the population (about two billion people), they receive just 2. Read more about NEWS BRIEFING: The health of teens and young people could be going backwards 

Global pandemic agreement approved by World Health Organization members

Publicly released: Tue 20 May 2025 at 1031 AEST, 1231 NZST

The approval of the Pandemic Agreement resolution follows a more than three-year process, launched by governments during the COVID-19 pandemic, to negotiate the world’s first such accord to Read more about Global pandemic agreement approved by World Health Organization members

Drug typically used for opioid addiction could be Long COVID treatment

Publicly released: Tue 20 May 2025 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences

Lead author Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik from Griffith’s National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED) said the study provided hope for the millions suffering from Long Read more about Drug typically used for opioid addiction could be Long COVID treatment

EXPERT REACTION: Polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea

Publicly released: Fri 16 May 2025 at 1302 AEST, 1502 NZST

Papua New Guinea has detected cases of polio which have triggered the activation of a national emergency response to protect children across the country. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea

What happens when patients try to control who they're getting their blood donation from?

Publicly released: Tue 13 May 2025 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

Annals of Internal Medicine

They say transfusions from directed donors rose by 11. 1% between 2019 and 2021, primary because of patients trying to avoid exposure to blood from COVID-19-vaccinated donors. ... 1% as compared with 2019. Read more about What happens when patients try to control who they're getting their blood donation from?