Research to achieve a reduction in the global rate of preterm birth needs attention: Preface to the special issue by the preterm Birth International Collaborative (PREBIC)

TY - JOUR

T1 - Research to achieve a reduction in the global rate of preterm birth needs attention

T2 - Preface to the special issue by the preterm Birth International Collaborative (PREBIC)

AU - Menon, Ramkumar

AU - Williams, Scott M.

AU - Lamont, Ronald F.

N1 - Funding Information: The World Health Organization recognized the values of PREBIC's vision and provided a platform for discussions from 2006 to 2014. Through these meetings and other activities, PREBIC has been instrumental in identifying two major issues challenging PTB research: i) the proper definition of PTB and ii) defining the global rate of PTB. PREBIC is active in bringing these issues to the forefront through its various forums resulting in an awareness that definition is a key consideration when conducting PTB research and designing clinical interventions. The lack of awareness of the global burden of PTB generated a Report published by WHO in its Bulletin [ 1 ] and subsequently led to the “Born Too Soon” report of 2011 released by the United Nations. This report provided data on individual geographic rates, and called for action to be implemented by all nations to reduce the impact of PTB. PREBIC has also published several Systematic Reviews to reveal knowledge gaps in various areas of PTB. Identification of knowledge gaps has facilitated development of the research agenda and has resulted in establishing multi-disciplinary research teams across worldwide. Research partnerships and networks have blossomed through PREBIC workshops and educational seminars leading to Grants funding support, and a number of publications. The PREBIC systematic reviews on biomarkers predictive of PTB have helped to reshape PTB biomarker discovery research landscape. PREBIC working groups have systematically reviewed four decades of literature to identify biomarkers that might be useful in predicting high-risk pregnancies [ 2 ]. These reports did not identify any useful predictive markers. However, they identified several research areas that require additional attention and made recommendations for future research. These included highlighting the need to establish biobanks in countries where PTB rates are high, providing guidelines for minimal and optimal data sets needed along with sample collections, and providing guidelines and methods for appropriate sample collection and storage that together have substantially helped the field in establishing biobanks around the world and advance PTB biomarker discovery research. Many biobanking and other studies proposed by PREBIC investigators are currently funded by major funding and philanthropic agencies that are expected to advance biomarker research. Accordingly, PREBIC workshops and educational activities have not only identified key areas of research needs, but have successfully campaigned to promote specific areas of research in the field.

PY - 2019/4

Y1 - 2019/4

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85059886126&partnerID=8YFLogxK

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U2 - 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.01.008

DO - 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.01.008

M3 - Review article

C2 - 30963346

AN - SCOPUS:85059886126

SN - 0143-4004

VL - 79

SP - 1

EP - 2

JO - Placenta

JF - Placenta

ER -