Bachelor of Exercise Science and Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology student Anu Francis takes silver in World Championship, while other successes include an esteemed award for a hydration innovation and a new paper highlights how sleep issues later in life could start in the womb.
Hydration innovation wins esteemed award
PREPD Hydration is joint-winner of the prestigious Australian Institute of Food Science and Innovation in 2022. Backed by more than 20 years of collaborative medical research between Flinders and Yale Universities, PREPD Hydration is a South Australia start-up company that is changing the way consumers think about hydration for sport, work and life in general. Being low in sugar, it is proven to increase post exercise rehydration 29% faster than normal sports drinks.
PREPD is based on clinical research that devised a better oral rehydration solution to treat severe dehydration arising from diseases such as cholera and rotavirus, for people living in developing countries.
Winning the AIFST Peter Seale 2022 Food Innovation Award will help promote the PREPD range of products, which are being introduced into the school sports curriculum to assist students with faster rehydration after completing before-school sport, enabling them to have better focus and concentration in the classroom. PREPD is available to purchase in Ready to Drink, sachets and tubs at www.prepdhydration.com.au and in select sports specialty stores.
NTMP student highlights sleep issues in later life could start in the womb
Flinders Northern Territory Medical Program student Matthias X Jing, alongside Associate Professor Subash Heraganahally from the Flinders NT, has co-authored recent research linking low birth rate in Northern Territory children with increased sleep disruption and overall poor sleep. The authors say this sleep health deficit may contribute to development of chronic disease in this vulnerable population, and should be monitored to provide avenues for early intervention.
The paper ‘Comparison of polysomnographic characteristics between low birthweight and normal birthweight children in the Northern Territory of Australia: A case-control study’ has been published in the journal Sleep Health.
Student takes silver on the world stage
Bachelor of Exercise Science and Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology student Anu Francis has finished second at the World Triathlon Para Series Swansea – a phenomenal achievement in her World Triathlon Para Series debut. She now has her sights set on the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 after making the switch to triathlon from rowing. This happened after she was talent-identified in 2020, and then became Oceania Paratriathlon Champion in her class earlier this year.