The University of California San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Health have initiated a significant partnership by joining the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network, a prestigious research collaboration under the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). This strategic alliance with UC San Francisco and UCSF Health amplifies clinical trial access throughout Southern California and pioneers advancements in obstetric care, promising transformative impacts on maternal and newborn health outcomes across the region.
Since its establishment in 1986, the MFMU Network has been instrumental in conducting rigorous research concentrated on improving the safety and health of pregnancies and newborns. The network’s legacy includes groundbreaking studies that inform clinical guidelines, substantially reducing complications related to prematurity, maternal morbidity, and neonatal diseases. Inclusion of UC San Diego Health as a satellite clinical center not only broadens geographic representation in these trials but also enhances the capacity to tailor interventions to diverse patient populations in the Western United States.
Patty Maysent, CEO of UC San Diego Health, emphasized the vital role of this collaboration in bridging the gap between academic research and clinical practice. By facilitating timely access to cutting-edge studies, this partnership enables both clinicians and patients to make evidence-informed decisions earlier in the pregnancy journey, thereby fostering safer pregnancies and healthier neonates. The initiative also reflects a commitment to health equity, ensuring that historically underserved communities receive the benefits of advanced obstetric research and care.
Research priorities within the MFMU Network at UC San Diego are poised to address some of the most pressing challenges in maternal-fetal medicine. This includes tackling maternal mortality—which remains a critical concern in obstetric care—as well as complications related to pregnancy and labor such as preeclampsia, low birth weight, and prematurity. The network aims to develop novel strategies to enhance postpartum recovery and reduce infant mortality and morbidity by deepening understanding through carefully designed clinical trials.
One of the core strengths of the MFMU Network lies in its rigorous study of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions during pregnancy and lactation, navigating the complexities of medication safety in this vulnerable population. Expanding clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatments will refine therapeutic approaches, minimizing risks while optimizing health outcomes for both mothers and their infants.
Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, a perinatologist and chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine, reflected on the historical impact of MFMU Network trials at a national level. She cited notable advances including the use of antenatal corticosteroids in late-preterm infants, which significantly decreases respiratory distress syndrome, and seminal findings on elective induction at 39 weeks gestation which have reduced cesarean delivery rates and mitigated preeclampsia risks, enhancing maternal and fetal outcomes.
UC San Diego Health’s role as the sole West Coast satellite center in the MFMU Network enriches the national clinical trial infrastructure by infusing regional diversity and expertise into multi-center studies. This geographical expansion ensures that the California patient population, with its unique demographics and health profiles, is represented in the research data that shapes evidence-based prenatal care policies nationwide.
Co-principal investigator Mary Norton, MD, from the UC San Francisco MFMU Network Center, highlighted the historical collaboration between the two institutions and expressed optimism that this new affiliation will amplify research output. Their combined efforts are expected to accelerate breakthroughs in high-risk maternity care, fostering innovation in clinical protocols that benefit vulnerable populations across the state and beyond.
The MFMU Network stands as the preeminent platform for conducting multi-site randomized clinical trials in obstetrics, with a reach covering over 160,000 births annually. This extensive network facilitates the rapid enrollment and diverse representation necessary to produce robust, generalizable data that informs clinical guidelines, elevating standards of care at a national scale.
Nahida Chakhtoura, MD, chief of the Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch at NICHD, articulated the network’s broader mission to refine obstetric and neonatal outcomes while addressing emerging healthcare disparities among pregnant and lactating women. The addition of UC San Diego Health as a second clinical center in California fortifies the MFMU Network’s capacity to translate research discoveries into impactful therapies and interventions that touch families nationwide.
Currently, the MFMU Network is actively engaged in over 50 randomized clinical trials, cohort studies, and registries. UC San Diego Health’s participation will be particularly influential in a new aspirin dosing clinical trial aimed at preventing preterm birth, a leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality. This trial exemplifies the network’s commitment to identifying accessible, low-risk interventions with profound public health implications.
Beyond direct patient care improvements, the MFMU Network affiliation enriches the educational milieu at UC San Diego School of Medicine, offering medical students, residents, and fellows unparalleled exposure to cutting-edge research methodologies and clinical trial participation. This immersive experience cultivates a new generation of clinicians and scientists equipped with the knowledge and skills to advance maternal-fetal health for years to come.
UC San Diego Health, as the region’s only academic health system, continues its legacy as a premier institution impacting clinical practice and medical education. The integration into the MFMU Network underscores the institution’s dedication to bridging scientific discovery and patient-centered care, ultimately ushering in an era of safer pregnancies, enhanced neonatal survival, and healthier future generations.
Subject of Research: Maternal-fetal medicine, pregnancy and newborn health, obstetric clinical trials, pregnancy complications, neonatal outcomes, pharmacologic safety in pregnancy.
Article Title: UC San Diego Joins the MFMU Network to Advance Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Obstetric Research
News Publication Date: Not specified
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Image Credits: UC San Diego Health
Keywords: Obstetrics, Childbirth, Cesarean birth, Prenatal care, Neonatology, Pregnancy complications, Clinical trials, Clinical studies
