NRAMP News

News and events at NRAMP

Governor-General visits NRAMP

On September 23, 2014 His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) and Her Excellency Lady Cosgrove visited MAPrc and met with staff and students. Professor Kulkarni presented an overview of our work at MAPrc and then senior researchers presented highlights from their specific fields. One highlight of the visit was their Excellencies' interest and high regard for our work with NRAMP, which elicited good discussion around the risk/benefit analysis of antipsychotic medication use during pregnancy, infant outcomes at birth, infant developmental milestones at 12 months and beyond, and genetic risk factors for children of mothers who took antipsychotic medication during pregnancy.

NRAMP study on antipsychotic medication during pregnancy published

The results of a seven-year study of women who take antipsychotic medication while pregnant have recently been published on PLOS ONE.

The study revealed that whilst most women gave birth to healthy babies, the use of mood stabilisers or higher doses of antipsychotics during pregnancy increased the need for special care after birth. MAPrc established the world-first National Register of Antipsychotic Medications in Pregnancy (NRAMP) in 2005 to collect data on antipsychotic medication and pregnancy. The study highlights the need for clearer health guidelines when antipsychotic drugs are taken during pregnancy. An overview of the study can be found on Monash University News and events, ABC Science or Futurity and the original article can be found on PLOS ONE.

 

The Project meets NRAMP

Network Ten's 'The Project' looked at antipsychotic medication use during pregnancy. 

As part of the program, Professor Kulkarni and one of our NRAMP Ambassadors discussed antipsychotic medication and pregnancy.

The Alfred Week Research Poster Display

The Alfred Week Research Poster Display took place from October 21-25 2013, on the main ground floor corridors of The Alfred. The Display is designed to showcase research at The Alfred, Burnet Institute, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute and Monash, Deakin and La Trobe University departments based at AMREP are invited to submit abstracts giving details of the research they wish to present as posters. An NRAMP poster was displayed entitled 'Healthy mothers, healthy babies'.

2013 Marcé Society Conference

NRAMP was represented at the 2013 Marcé Society Conference held in Melbourne on 11-12 October. NRAMP's oral presentation was entitled 'Infant outcomes at birth and 12 months of age: The National Register of Antipsychotic Medication in Pregnancy'. 

The Marcé Society takes its name from Louis Victor Marcé, who published the first substantial treatise on mental illness in pregnancy and the puerperium (the approximate six-week period lasting from childbirth to the return of normal uterine size) in 1858. The Society was formed in the UK in 1980 and has a growing international membership. The formation of the Australasian Branch of the Marcé in 1995 was a reflection of the growing commitment and enthusiasm within Australasia towards issues related to mental illness and pregnancy. The Marcé Society is multi-disciplinary and provides a forum for the exchange of information and ideas between professionals concerned with the welfare of women and their families around the time of childbirth.

Governor-General meets NRAMP team 

On Tuesday, October 1 2013, Her Excellency Quentin Bryce, AC CVO, Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia launched MAPrc at its new premises on Level 4, 607 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne. During the course of her visit, Her Excellency met with the NRAMP team and was extremely interested in the work of NRAMP, discussing the structure and function of NRAMP, healthy outcomes for mothers and babies and the very popular baby board. 

 

 MAPrc Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Level 4, 607 St Kilda Road, Melbourne 3004

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