WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Feb. 24, 2012 -With the help of funding from the March of Dimes, researchers from five states and Canada are seeking answers to questions such as how cellular-level processes that control uterine muscles may affect preterm labor, the causes of preeclampsia, and how air pollution may affect pregnancy and preterm birth - all with the goal of preventing preterm birth so more babies will get a healthy start in life.
These topics are among the work of seven researchers that will be supported for the next three years by new March of Dimes Prematurity Research Initiative (PRI) grants. The nearly $3 million in grants will support scientific efforts to learn to identify which women are at risk for preterm birth and how to prevent it. These 2012 grants bring the eight-year-old program's total to more than $22 million.
Following three decades of increases, in 2010 the United States saw the first four-year decline in the preterm birth rate, to 11.99 percent. Despite the improvement, however, nearly half a million babies are born too soon each year, the March of Dimes notes.
The March of Dimes has set a goal of lowering the nation's preterm birth rate to 9.6 percent by 2020. The goal was set byestimating the maximum achievable benefits of applying known strategies to prevent preterm birth, such as smoking cessation programs, progesterone treatments for medically eligible women, and others, but recognized that continued research is needed to yield new medical advances.
Sarah K. England, PhD, professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Basic Science Research, at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, has been among the PRI grantees since the program began in 2005. Dr. England is researching how mutations to a gene that regulates tiny openings in cell membranes thatallow potassium to flow out of uterine muscle cells affect preterm labor. When potassium exits the cells, the uterus relaxes, allowing the pregnancy to continue. Dr. England is investigating whether a genetic mutation may cause the cell membranes to close early, preventing the potassium from leaving the uterus, triggering labor. If this proves correct, it could lead to the development of drugs that open the channels and prevent or halt preterm labor.
Other grant recipients include:
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org . Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
The March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter Kmart, Farmers Insurance Group, Cigna, Famous Footwear, Sanofi Pasteur, FedEx, Mission Pharmacal, Watson Pharmaceuticals, First Response, and United Airlines.
For more information contact:
Elizabeth Lynch, (914) 997-4286, elynch@marchofdimes.com
Todd Dezen, (914) 997-4608, tdezen@marchofdimes.com