Australia Invests $3.6M to Develop Newborn Screening Platform

Australia has allocated $3.6 million (A$5.5 million) to researchers at the University of New South Wales to create a new platform for newborn screening.

The funding will support a 12-month research trial of the platform, which will screen for 24 genetic conditions in newborns across Queensland.

The conditions to be screened include biotinidase deficiency, haemophilia, cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy, and severe combined immunodeficiency.

The Australian government stated that the goal of this initiative is to reduce diagnosis times, enabling quicker access to urgent care and promoting early intervention for affected infants.