Current Releases
11/03/2009
Wellbeing of Women fund, first of its kind, Functional Genetic Research that will Save Lives
Wellbeing of Women, the only UK charity dedicated to solving the health issues that solely affect women, are creating a unique global research resource (known as the Baby Bio Bank).
The bank dedicated to solving the four main complications in pregnancy, thanks to the money raised by the Lord Mayor’s Appeal 2008, of which Wellbeing of Women were the main beneficiary.
Once complete, the research database will be available to researchers from all over the world to share.
The Research
This will involve collecting blood samples from the parents and placenta from the babies affected by any of these complications. This will be the first study of its kind and the most extensive, as it will analyse not only maternal but paternal inheritance patterns.
The main complications of pregnancy are: recurrent miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction (abnormally small babies), pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnancy) and preterm delivery. The samples taken will be examined to investigate the possible underlying causes of these conditions and how much inheritance plays a part.
The bank will be based at The Institute of Child Health, University College London and St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College London.
The project is being headed up by Professor Lesley Regan, (St Mary’s, Imperial College London) Internationally acclaimed Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and researcher into recurrent miscarriage and Professor Gudrun Moore, (Institute of Child Health, University College London) International researcher into the genetic aetiology of intrauterine growth restriction and pregnancy complications.
The importance
There is no comprehensive database/ bio bank dedicated to complications in pregnancy in the world. It will help to identify the inherited and biological nature of complications in pregnancy and the links between them. It will also create a pan-London project and an international resource and bring together eminent professionals in the fields of obstetrics and gynaecology. This project will look to save the lives of thousands of women and their babies.
For more information please contact the Wellbeing of Women office on 020 7772 6400 or email wellbeingofwomen@rcog.org.uk
Why is this project so important?
- Around 250,000 UK pregnancies end in miscarriage
- Over 50% of stillbirths remain unexplained
- 1 in 13 live births in England and Wales are born preterm
- 25% of premature births are caused by Pre-eclampsia
- 1 in 25 babies are growth restricted.
Who can donate?
A Baby Bio Bank research midwife will approach families at their first antenatal clinic. They will explain the project and take consent for personal data and samples being collected. The family will be tracked until their baby is born and samples stored for the Baby Bio Bank
Which medical information will be collected?
Information about the family will be recorded, e.g. weight and height of the mother, pregnancy and medical history. This information will be used to investigate both inheritance patterns and causes of common conditions of pregnancy.
Data protection?
The data collected will be anonymous. At birth personal identifiers will be removed. Each study participant will have a unique number relevant only to the study group. The data is stored and is only accessible through use of a user name and password.
Wellbeing of Women press office
Ryan Holloway, PR Manager, 020 7772 6400/ 07932089280 or email
Notes to Editors
Wellbeing of Women
- Wellbeing of Women is the only UK charity dedicated to solving the health problems that affect women by funding medical research and training into all aspects of reproductive health. Over the past 45 years, Wellbeing of Women has invested millions in funding the very best in medical research and training. Every woman living in the UK since 1964 will have benefited from advances in healthcare made possible by research grants from Wellbeing of Women, such as ultrasound and cervical cancer screening.
- Sarah Brown became Patron in 2007, following in the steps of other illustrious patrons including Diana, Princess of Wales, who became Patron of Wellbeing of Women, formerly Birthright, in 1984
Wellbeing of Women
27 Sussex Place
Regent's Park
London NW1 4SP
Tel: 020 7772 6400
Fax: 020 7724 7725
wellbeingofwomen@rcog.org.uk
Registered Charity No: 239281
Regent's Park
London NW1 4SP
Tel: 020 7772 6400
Fax: 020 7724 7725
wellbeingofwomen@rcog.org.uk
Registered Charity No: 239281
