Maternity hospital to study babies of low birth weight

A WORLD-class research centre focussing on the mother and the unborn baby was officially opened yesterday at the country’s newest maternity hospital.

The Anu Research Centre, on the top floor of Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), is already involved in a large-scale international research project which involves investigating the causes of low birth-weight babies and pre-eclampsia — a condition unique to pregnancy which if untreated can threaten the life of both mother and foetus.

The Screening for Obstetric and Pregnancy Endpoint programme, which is being conducted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University College Cork (UCC), will involve voluntary participants being assessed by a team of doctors, scientists and midwives.

Up to 3,000 women in Munster will be among 10,000 internationally taking part in the programme.

Recruitment began in February. The four-year study will examine why some women are more prone than others to developing pre-eclampsia and why some give birth to low birth-weight babies.

A second study is using metabolomic technology to develop biomarkers — biochemical characteristics — that will predict intra-uterine growth restriction or, in other words, poor foetal growth.

The Anu Research Centre also has responsibility for the collection of data on perinatal health on a national basis.

This means that every time a mother gives birth, the important interventions, the good outcomes and the complications will be recorded and analysed at a national specialist centre, according to Health Minister Mary Harney.

Unusual trends will be easily and quickly observed and acted on.

The objective of the national database is to translate outcome data from maternity hospitals and evidence-based best practice into improved clinical services for Irish patients.

Professor John Higgins, at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology in UCC said the opening of the research centre had been possible because of the co-operation between UCC and HSE South.

“The development of the Anu Research Centre and Women’s Health and Reproduction emphasises the benefits of integrating research and innovation with service delivery,” Prof Higgins said.

Named after Anu, the Celtic goddess of fertility and prosperity, the research centre will also look at innovation in gynaecological surgery. The centre was officially opened by Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin.

To take part in the programme, women must be healthy, be in their first pregnancy, or have had no more than three miscarriages or terminations, or a combination of both.

For more info visit www.scopestudy.net, or call 021-4205026.