Pregnancy, Fetal Wellbeing and Childbirth
Despite considerable advances in care over the last 50 years, pregnancy is still associated with relatively high rates of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality both in the UK and worldwide.
This research stream focuses on the three inter-related areas of maternal health, fetal wellbeing and pregnancy outcomes at delivery, with the aim to improve the management of medical problems in pregnancy (antiphospholipid syndrome, pre-eclampsia, obstetric cholestasis, diabetes); fetal congenital abnormality, preterm labour, and dysfunctional labour.
The overarching goal is to implement a research strategy that will deliver new diagnostic tools, novel therapies and clinical management guidelines to improve overall outcomes for pregnant women and their children. Our strategy is centred on translating good basic science research related to parturition, inflammation, obesity and nutrition, reproductive ageing and preterm birth into novel and successful clinical outputs.
Our strengths include large multidisciplinary research team that has access to two of the largest and most socially and ethnically varied and complex populations of pregnant women in the UK that exhibits high rates of pregnancy-associated complications and social deprivation.
We have an excellent track record of developing first trimester screening tools, implementing clinical trials in pregnancy and proven experience in integrating science research goals with clinical need. Our research approach is further enhanced by cross-linking with the researchers with an interest in ‘Women’s Health Policy, Services and Public Health’. Collaboration will facilitate rapid evaluation of knowledge transfer, and effectiveness and safety of our research outputs in a monitored health care setting. The impact of mental health on pregnancy outcomes will also be a focused area for expansion in our research programmes.
Principal Investigators