In February 2009, the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Initiative (PRI) awarded almost $2.7 million for three-year grants to seven researchers. Since PRI began in 2005, it has distributed almost $14 million. The goal is to encourage research aimed at predicting or preventing preterm birth. The 2009 grantees are:

Dr. Jennifer C. Condon, University of Pittsburgh, is studying whether a particular enzyme (caspase-3) plays a key role in suppressing uterine contractions. She is also looking at an inflammatory substance that may lower caspase-3 levels and thus enable the uterus to contract, either at term or preterm.

Dr. Michal Elovitz, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, is examining substances that are involved in early stages of inflammation and determining which of them may predict preterm delivery.
 
Dr. Sarah Katherine England, University of Iowa, Iowa City, is identifying cellular mechanisms that regulate a certain class of potassium ion channels (SK3), which play an important role in suppressing uterine contractions. Understanding SK3 regulation may lead to treatments to prevent or stop preterm labor.

Dr. Ramkumar Menon, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, is analyzing data from more than 100,000 pregnancies and looking for genetic factors associated with preterm birth. He will look at similarities and differences between ethnic groups to shed light on disparities in preterm birth.

Dr. Deborah McColl Money, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, is using a powerful new genetic method to detect and identify microbes associated with preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM). When PPROM occurs, the sac inside the uterus that holds the baby breaks too soon; preterm birth often follows. The goal of the research is to use microbial profiles to predict and prevent PPROM.

Dr. James Frederick Padbury, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, is identifying and analyzing biological pathways that lead to preterm birth. He is using data on genes and proteins taken from maternal and umbilical cord blood. Dr. Padbury is examining ethnicity, behavior, environmental factors and health histories, including pregnancy complications.

Dr. Kristina M. Adams Waldorf, University of Washington, Seattle, is studying whether uterine stretching can induce preterm labor. If it does, treatments may be able to impede the process. Uterine stretching appears to be a main cause of preterm labor in pregnancies with twins, triplets or more.

February 2009