Children's Health Research Institute

Maternal, Fetal & Newborn Health Dr. Andy Babwah

Affiliations

Scientist, Division of Maternal, Fetal & Newborn Health, Children’s Health Research Institute
Associate Professor, Departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Physiology & Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University
Manager, Confocal Imaging Facility, Victoria Research Laboratories

How my research helps children

Our work is focused on understanding how a region of the brain called the hypothalamus, through the actions of a major hormone called the gonadotropin releasing-hormone (GnRH), regulates the timely onset of puberty or the attainment of fertility.

Normal puberty begins between ages 8 and 14 in girls and between 9 and 14 in boys.  Puberty, however, for some children can come much sooner, much later, or in many cases, never occurs and thereby contributes to the estimated 35-70 million infertile couples worldwide.

GnRH is the master regulator of the reproductive axis.  Absent or diminished GnRH secretion leads to a condition referred to as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH).  HH can be manifested during late fetal development and throughout post-natal life.  Early manifestation of HH leads to the failure of a child to undergo puberty and secondary sexual development.  This condition impacts negatively on the quality of a child's life in both early and late teenage life and is linked to increased depression, promiscuous sexual behavior, increased targets of sexual predation, drug-abuse and increased suicidal tendencies amongst teenagers.

By understanding the molecular basis of GnRH secretion, novel therapies can be developed to treat the condition of HH and thereby ensure that children undergo puberty and normal sexual development and hence enjoy a great quality of life.