The grant aims to study the advantages of using pasteurised donor human milk (donor milk) versus infant formula for pre-term babies when maternal breast milk is not readily available
Researchers from the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute have been awarded more than $2.2 million on World Breastfeeding Day. This grant is one of 28 distributed across Australia by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) totalling nearly $73 million. The grant aims to study the advantages of using pasteurised donor human milk (donor milk) versus infant formula for pre-term babies when maternal breast milk is not readily available.
Led by Associate Professor Rumbold, the project team will partner with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood to conduct a randomised controlled trial at five sites in three states. The goal is to determine whether the use of donor milk helps babies get home sooner with fewer feeding-related complications, benefiting infants, their families, and the broader health system. Additionally, this research funding is in addition to the $6 million announced in the 2023-24 Budget for continued financing of donor breast milk bank services.
The grants announced will fund 28 research projects through NHMRC’s Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies grant scheme.
