Mater Research Leads Queensland-first Trial Assessing Impacts of COVID-19 on Expectant Parents

Led by Mater Research’s Professor Vicki Clifton, based at TRI, the landmark study will assess the impacts of the pandemic on expectant parents and their unborn babies.

Supported by a $500,000 donation from the Lott, Prof Clifton said it was important to capture data from both expectant mothers and fathers during this once-in-a-lifetime pandemic to see what the impacts of the crisis were on families, the pregnancy and their babies as they developed.  

“We know from previous research undertaken at Mater on the impacts of the 2011 floods that you don’t need to be directly affected by a crisis to have increased stress hormones in your system.  

“It’s important that while we have, and continue to experience a pandemic, that we are evaluating the impacts on these families and also how this will influence their babies’ development up until they are school age,” Professor Clifton said. 

Professor Clifton thanked Golden Casket for its support of the project and many other important studies currently underway at Mater. 

"It’s support like this from Golden Casket that allows us to pursue this necessary research which has the capability of improving outcomes for families across the country,” she said.  

The results will be used to improve support services for pregnant couples in a health crisis. Families interested in taking part in the study and who are birthing at Mater Mothers’ Hospitals can email [email protected]