Dr Barbara Elizabeth Cormack
PhD, MHSc, Dip HSc, NZ Registered Dietitian
Biography
Barbara Cormack has a PhD in Perinatal Science and MHSc with 1st class honours from the University of Auckland. She works clinically as a neonatal specialist dietitian and is Clinical Lead for the team of the paediatric dietitians at Starship Child Health, Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand.
Research | Current
PhD topic: Does better early nutrition in preterm babies improve growth and neurodevelopment?
Supervisors: Professors Frank Bloomfield and Caroline Crowther
The ProVIDE Study
Protein IVN: Impact on Development
Does better early nutrition in preterm babies improve development?
The ProVIDE Study is a multicentre, two-arm, double-blind, placebo controlled randomised trial.
Chief Investigator: Professor Frank Bloomfield
Primary Investigator: Barbara Cormack
Aim: To determine in extremely low birthweight babies (birthweight < 1000g) whether an extra 1 g protein per day for the first 5 days after birth will improve survival free of neurodisability at age 2 years; (ii) improve body composition and (iii) prevent faltering growth at hospital discharge.
Intervention: All participants will receive normal neonatal intensive care and intravenous nutrition in accordance with established NICU guidelines in each centre. The control group will receive a 0.45% saline solution via the umbilical arterial catheter (UAC) according to current clinical practice. The intervention group will receive a UAC solution of 8.5% TrophAmine (an amino acid solution providing ~1 g to 2 g/Kg.d protein).
Eligibility criteria: Babies born with a birthweight of less than 1000 g in whom a clinical decision to place an umbilical arterial catheter has been made and whose parents/caregivers have given written informed consent.
Number of participants required: 430
Date recruitment started: 29 May 2014
Date recruitment finished/planned: October 2018
Funding source: Health Research Council of New Zealand, Gravida: National Centre for Growth and Development, A+ Trust, Cure Kids, Lottery Grants Board and the Nurture Foundation.
Teaching | Current
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Postgraduate supervision
Thesis supervision - completed theses co-supervised |
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2018 Nicole Hill, Master of Health Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Auckland, Growth and clinical outcome in very low birthweight infants after the introduction of a multicomponent lipid emulsion. |
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2015 Victoria Arliss, Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, Massey University, Parental reporting of the feeding practices of infants in New Zealand: an observational study. |
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2014 Jenny Vitali, Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, Massey University, Feeding practices and growth of preterm infants discharged from the NICU at Auckland City Hospital until 12 months corrected age. |
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2013 Briar Emmett, Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, Massey University, Vitamin D Status of Preterm Infants at 4 Months Post Hospital Discharge. |
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2013 Charlotte Moor, Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, Massey University, Iron Status of Preterm Infants after Hospital Discharge. |
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2001-2009 Co-supervision of 1 University of Auckland and 2 Otago University student practicums |
Distinctions/Honours
SIGNIFICANT DISTINCTIONS / AWARDS:
| 2021 | John Funder Best Student Publication Award |
2018 |
Winner - Chief of Health Professions Research Award, Auckland District Health Board |
2016 |
Neige Todhunter Award, Dietitians NZ |
2016 |
PSANZ New Investigator Award Best Oral Presentation in Allied Health |
2016 |
PSANZ Best Poster in Allied Health |
2016 |
PSANZ Nutrition Research Award |
2015 |
Allied Health/Technical Best Poster Award, Auckland District Health Board |
2015 |
Best Poster Award - Starship Foundation |
2013 |
Allied Health Award - Research Award, Auckland District Health Board |
2012 |
Dietitians NZ Award of Excellence |
Responsibilities
Clinical Lead - Paediatrics Dietitians, Starship Child Health
ProVIDe Study Coordinator
Areas of expertise
Nutritional care of preterm infants
Committees/Professional groups/Services
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Selected publications and creative works (Research Outputs)
- Cormack, B. E., Jiang, Y., Harding, J. E., Crowther, C. A., Lynn, A., Nair, A., ... Webster, D. (2020). Plasma ammonia concentrations in extremely low birthweight infants in the first week after birth: secondary analysis from the ProVIDe randomized clinical trial. Pediatric research, 88 (2), 250-256. 10.1038/s41390-019-0730-z
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Yannan Jiang, Jane Harding, Frank Bloomfield, Caroline Crowther - Li, Y., Shen, R. L., Ayede, A. I., Berrington, J., Bloomfield, F. H., Busari, O. O., ... Greisen, G. (2020). Early Use of Antibiotics Is Associated with a Lower Incidence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm, Very Low Birth Weight Infants: The NEOMUNE-NeoNutriNet Cohort Study. The Journal of pediatrics10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.06.032
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Frank Bloomfield - Cormack, B. E., Jiang, Y., Harding, J. E., Crowther, C. A., Bloomfield, F. H., & ProVIDe Trial Group (2020). Neonatal Refeeding Syndrome and Clinical Outcome in Extremely Low-Birth-Weight Babies: Secondary Cohort Analysis From the ProVIDe Trial. JPEN. Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition10.1002/jpen.1934
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Yannan Jiang, Frank Bloomfield, Jane Harding, Caroline Crowther - Fenton, T. R., Cormack, B., Goldberg, D., Nasser, R., Alshaikh, B., Eliasziw, M., ... Bloomfield, F. (2020). "Extrauterine growth restriction" and "postnatal growth failure" are misnomers for preterm infants. Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association, 40 (5), 704-714. 10.1038/s41372-020-0658-5
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Frank Bloomfield - Tottman, A. C., Bloomfield, F. H., Cormack, B. E., Harding, J. E., Taylor, J., & Alsweiler, J. M. (2020). Sex-specific relationships between early nutrition and neurodevelopment in preterm infants. Pediatric research, 87 (5), 872-878. 10.1038/s41390-019-0695-y
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/49933
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Anna Tottman, Frank Bloomfield, Jane Harding, Jane Alsweiler - Cormack, B. E., Jiang, Y., Harding, J. E., Crowther, C. A., & Bloomfield, F. H. (2020). Relationships between Neonatal Nutrition and Growth to 36 Weeks' Corrected Age in ELBW Babies-Secondary Cohort Analysis from the Provide Trial. Nutrients, 12 (3).10.3390/nu12030760
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Yannan Jiang, Jane Harding, Frank Bloomfield, Caroline Crowther - Oliver, C., Watson, C., Crowley, E., Gilroy, M., Page, D., Weber, K., ... Cormack, B. (2019). Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation Practices in Preterm Infants: A Survey of Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Intensive and Special Care Units. Nutrients, 12 (1).10.3390/nu12010051
- Cormack, B., Oliver, C., Farrent, S., Young, J., Coster, K., Gilroy, M., ... Australasian Neonatal Dietitians Network (ANDiN) (2019). Neonatal dietitian resourcing and roles in New Zealand and Australia: A survey of current practice. Nutrition & dietetics: the journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia10.1111/1747-0080.12592
Identifiers
Contact details
Alternative contact
Neonatal/Paediatric Dietitian
Clinical Lead - Paediatric Dietitians, Office 2, Level 8. Room 81.038 Support Building, Auckland City Hospital, Private Bag 920 24, Auckland, New Zealand
Tel +64 9 307 4949 Ext 23351 Mobile 021 915158
Primary office location
M&HS BUILDING 503 - Bldg 503
Level 2, Room 201
85 PARK RD
GRAFTON
AUCKLAND 1023
New Zealand
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