Future Studies

All babies born in Victoria in 2005 will be included in the next VICS intake if they are born under 28 weeks gestation and weighing less than 1kg. These babies will automatically be enrolled in the next VICS intake, along with a group of full term babies.

New VICS studies

We propose to assess over the next few years the following groups of children:

1. Children of birthweight less than 1000 g or less than 28 weeks gestational age born in 1991-92, and their normal birth weight controls, at ages 14-15 years. We are particularly interested in their growth, breathing ability and academic progress.
   
   
2. Children of birthweight less than 1000 g or less than 28 weeks gestational age born in 1997, and their normal birth weight controls, at ages 8-9 years. We are particularly interested in their thinking ability, behaviour and general health, as well as their growth, breathing ability and academic progress.
   
   
3. Children of birthweight less than 1000 g or less than 28 weeks gestational age born in 2005, and their normal birth weight controls, at age 2 years. We are particularly interested in the way their brain works at this age, as well as their overall health and sensory function.