UTMB, March of Dimes partner to create Prematurity Research Center

The University of Texas Medical Branch and the March of Dimes have partnered to create the March of Dimes Texas Collaborative Prematurity Research Center to accelerate understanding, predicting and preventing preterm birth.

Under the leadership of Dr. Ramkumar Menon, director of the Division of Basic Science and Translational Research in the department of OB/GYN at UTMB, the UTMB arm of the Texas Collaborative PRC will bring together scientists, clinicians and data experts to explore the complex biological processes of pregnancy and develop new strategies to reduce the risk of prematurity.

Premature birth-defined as delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy-affects more than 10 percent of births in the United States, with Texas rates remaining among the highest in the nation. Despite its significant impact on maternal and infant health, no new drugs have been tested to prevent preterm birth in more than four decades due to safety concerns for mothers and babies.

"Human pregnancy physiology is very complex as two independent bodies co-exist in a harmonious state for about 10 months," Menon said. "Disturbances to this harmonious state lead to premature birth.

"The Perinatal Research Lab at UTMB is all about saving babies from prematurity and associated complications throughout their life," he added. "This center will allow us to expand our mission and explore entirely new horizons in perinatal research."

Menon's lab at UTMB has pioneered the development of New Approach Methods-human-relevant research systems that replicate pregnancy processes without relying on animal models. One such innovation is the Pregnancy-on-a-Chip model, which re-creates key maternal and fetal organ systems using human cells from normal pregnancies.

"These advanced models allow us to study pregnancy as it truly occurs in humans," Menon said. "With them, we can investigate the biological pathways that lead to preterm birth, identify biomarkers to predict risk and evaluate new compounds for safety and effectiveness-all before reaching clinical trials."

Data generated from the Pregnancy-on-a-Chip models will also fuel the development of artificial intelligence-based risk prediction algorithms to help clinicians identify women most at risk for preterm labor based on clinical and demographic information.

In addition, the Menon lab is employing 3D printing technology to construct feto-maternal interface barriers, which model the transport of nutrients, gases and drugs between mother and fetus. This innovation allows researchers to rapidly screen FDA-approved and new compounds for their safety and efficacy during pregnancy-an approach that ultimately could make pregnancies safer and reduce preterm births.

"The March of Dimes Texas Collaborative Prematurity Research Center at UTMB will serve as a collaborative platform for testing and validating multiple New Approach Methods developed in our lab," Menon said. "By working alongside March of Dimes and our research partners, we aim to develop practical, translational tools that improve maternal and infant outcomes."

The mission and vision of the Menon lab and the March of Dimes are deeply aligned-both committed to understanding and preventing preterm birth and improving the health of all mothers and babies.

"By combining the strengths of our research enterprise with the March of Dimes' national leadership in maternal and infant health," Menon said, "we are taking an important step toward a future where every baby has the opportunity for a healthy start."