Overview
Background
Dr Melissa Lai is a Neonatologist at the Grantley Stable Neonatal Unit, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, and serves as co-chair of the RBWH Neonatal Research Group. She is the site lead for a dynamic set of clinical trials and quality improvement projects, and helps to build research capacity and collaboration across institutions. Awarded in 2021, Dr Lai's PhD investigated the neurodevelopmental effects of infant massage in premature infants with a primary outcome measuring neonatal EEG power. Other clinical areas of interest include data management, clinician performed ultrasound and retrieval coordination. She is currently building an innovative body of work related to improving and supporting the provision of mother's own milk, and introducing new technologies into the neonatal intensive care environment.
Availability
- Dr Melissa Lai is:
- Not available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy of Paediatrics, The University of Queensland
- Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Works
Search Professor Melissa Lai’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Ceasing or gradually reducing incubator humidity after 7 days for extremely preterm infants: a randomised clinical trial
Noreiks, Gillion, August, Deanne, Lai, Melissa and Davies, Mark W. (2025). Ceasing or gradually reducing incubator humidity after 7 days for extremely preterm infants: a randomised clinical trial. European Journal of Pediatrics, 184 (1) 66, 66. doi: 10.1007/s00431-024-05893-w
2024
Journal Article
Assessing the feasibility of handheld scanning technologies in neonatal intensive care: Trueness, acceptability, and suitability for personalised medical devices
August, Deanne, Byram, Isabel, Forrestal, David, Desselle, Mathilde, Stevenson, Nathan, Iyer, Kartik, Davies, Mark W., White, Katherine, Cobbald, Linda, Chapple, Lynette, McGrory, Kellie, McLean, Margaret, Hall, Stephanie, Schoenmaker, Brittany, Clement, Jackie and Lai, Melissa M. (2024). Assessing the feasibility of handheld scanning technologies in neonatal intensive care: Trueness, acceptability, and suitability for personalised medical devices. Australian Critical Care, 38 (2) 101127, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2024.09.012
2024
Journal Article
Outcomes and perspectives of woman-newborn dyads following discharge from a quaternary maternity service in Australia: a cross-sectional survey
Lai, Melissa M., August, Deanne, Sharfuddin, Zoya, Palmer-Field, Kristina, Johnston, Louise, Main, Elizabeth, Smith, Patricia, Kilgour, Catherine M. and Kearney, Lauren (2024). Outcomes and perspectives of woman-newborn dyads following discharge from a quaternary maternity service in Australia: a cross-sectional survey. Women and Birth, 37 (1), 248-256. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.10.007
2023
Journal Article
Period prevalence of positional head deformations and implications for practice in a large tertiary neonatal unit
Hepnar, Lindsay, Ngenda, Naoni, Cottrell, Michelle, Lai, Melissa, Sharpe, Janet and August, Deanne (2023). Period prevalence of positional head deformations and implications for practice in a large tertiary neonatal unit. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 60 (1), 18-23. doi: 10.1111/jpc.16520
2023
Journal Article
Subpial haemorrhage in a well-term neonate
Hong, Lisa, McLaughlin, Linda, Lai, Melissa and Guandalini, Michael (2023). Subpial haemorrhage in a well-term neonate. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 59 (5), 766-768. doi: 10.1111/jpc.16394
2022
Journal Article
Infant massage and brain maturation measured using EEG: A randomised controlled trial
Lai, Melissa, D'Acunto, Giulia, Guzzetta, Andrea, Finnigan, Simon, Ngenda, Naoni, Ware, Robert S., Boyd, Roslyn N. and Colditz, Paul B. (2022). Infant massage and brain maturation measured using EEG: A randomised controlled trial. Early Human Development, 172 105632, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2022.105632
2022
Journal Article
Epidemiology and long-term neurological sequelae of childhood herpes simplex CNS infection
Berkhout, Angela, Kapoor, Vishal, Heney, Claire, Jones, Cheryl A., Clark, Julia E., Britton, Philip N., Vaska, Vikram L., Lai, Melissa M. and Nourse, Clare (2022). Epidemiology and long-term neurological sequelae of childhood herpes simplex CNS infection. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 58 (8), 1372-1378. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15992
2022
Journal Article
Determining reference data for overnight oximetry in neonates: a pilot study
Flint, Anndrea, August, Deanne, Lai, Melissa, Chawla, Jasneek, Ballard, Emma and Davies, Mark W. (2022). Determining reference data for overnight oximetry in neonates: a pilot study. Early Human Development, 168 105571, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2022.105571
2022
Journal Article
Electroencephalographic studies in growth-restricted and small-for-gestational-age neonates
Stevenson, Nathan J., Lai, Melissa M., Starkman, Hava E., Colditz, Paul B. and Wixey, Julie A. (2022). Electroencephalographic studies in growth-restricted and small-for-gestational-age neonates. Pediatric Research, 92 (6), 1-8. doi: 10.1038/s41390-022-01992-2
2022
Journal Article
Neonatal early‐onset sepsis calculator safety in an Australian tertiary perinatal centre
Scott, Philip A., Lai, Melissa, Inglis, Garry D. T. and Davies, Mark W. (2022). Neonatal early‐onset sepsis calculator safety in an Australian tertiary perinatal centre. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 58 (5), 863-867. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15860
2021
Other Outputs
Towards Optimising Neurodevelopment in very preterm infants: the effects of infant massage by the mother
Lai, Melissa (2021). Towards Optimising Neurodevelopment in very preterm infants: the effects of infant massage by the mother. PhD Thesis, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/6a534e0
2021
Journal Article
Herpes Simplex Virus Infection in Infants: 13 Year Evaluation (2005-2017) of Laboratory Confirmed Cases in Queensland, Australia
Berkhout, Angela, Kapoor, Vishal, Heney, Claire, Jones, Cheryl A., Clark, Julia E., Vaska, Vikram L., Lai, Melissa and Nourse, Clare (2021). Herpes Simplex Virus Infection in Infants: 13 Year Evaluation (2005-2017) of Laboratory Confirmed Cases in Queensland, Australia. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 40 (3) 002970, 209-214. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000002970
2018
Journal Article
Background EEG features and prediction of cognitive outcomes in very preterm infants: a systematic review
Kong, Annice H.T., Lai, Melissa M., Finnigan, Simon, Ware, Robert S., Boyd, Roslyn N. and Colditz, Paul B. (2018). Background EEG features and prediction of cognitive outcomes in very preterm infants: a systematic review. Early Human Development, 127, 74-84. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2018.09.015
2016
Journal Article
PREMM: preterm early massage by the mother: protocol of a randomised controlled trial of massage therapy in very preterm infants
Lai, Melissa M., D'Acunto, Giulia, Guzzetta, Andrea, Boyd, Roslyn N., Rose, Stephen E., Fripp, Jurgen, Finnigan, Simon, Ngenda, Naoni, Love, Penny, Whittingham, Koa, Pannek, Kerstin, Ware, Robert S. and Colditz, Paul B. (2016). PREMM: preterm early massage by the mother: protocol of a randomised controlled trial of massage therapy in very preterm infants. BMC Pediatrics, 16 (146) 146, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s12887-016-0678-7
2015
Journal Article
PPREMO: A prospective cohort study of preterm infant brain structure and function to predict neurodevelopmental outcome
George, Joanne M., Boyd, Roslyn N., Colditz, Paul B., Rose, Stephen E., Pannek, Kerstin, Fripp, Jurgen, Lingwood, Barbara E., Lai, Melissa M., Kong, Annice HT., Ware, Robert S., Coulthard, Alan, Finn, Christine M. and Bandaranayake, Sasaka E. (2015). PPREMO: A prospective cohort study of preterm infant brain structure and function to predict neurodevelopmental outcome. BMC Pediatrics, 15 (123) 123, 123. doi: 10.1186/s12887-015-0439-z
2015
Journal Article
EEG background features that predict outcome in term neonates with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy: a structured review
Awal, Md. Abdul, Lai, Melissa M., Azemi, Ghasem, Boashash, Boualem and Colditz, Paul B. (2015). EEG background features that predict outcome in term neonates with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy: a structured review. Clinical Neurophysiology, 127 (1), 285-296. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.05.018
2014
Journal Article
Subgaleal haemorrhage in the newborn: a call for early diagnosis and aggressive management
Colditz, Michael J., Lai, Melissa M., Cartwright, David W. and Colditz, Paul B. (2014). Subgaleal haemorrhage in the newborn: a call for early diagnosis and aggressive management. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 51 (2), 140-146. doi: 10.1111/jpc.12698
2014
Journal Article
Methods for securing endotracheal tubes in newborn infants (Review)
Lai, Melissa, Inglis, Garry D. T., Hose, Karen, Jardine, Luke A. and Davies, Mark W. (2014). Methods for securing endotracheal tubes in newborn infants (Review). The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2014 (7) CD007805. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007805.pub2
2009
Journal Article
Methods for securing endotracheal tubes in newborn infants (Protocol)
Lai, Melissa, Inglis, Garry D. T., Hose, Karen, Jardine, Luke A. and Davies, Mark W. (2009). Methods for securing endotracheal tubes in newborn infants (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1 (2) CD007805, 165-168. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007805
Funding
Past funding
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Dr Melissa Lai's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: