The Maternity Research theme was launched at an event on Thursday 19 September, attended by guest speakers, researchers, clinicians and women who use maternity services. We heard about projects such as the Big Baby and Alife trials, work with parents facing ‘difficult’ babies, and hear from the Chief Midwifery Officer at NHS England and NHS Improvement and National Maternity Safety Champion for the Department of Health, Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE.
I spoke about my project and the aims of partnering with the CTU for Coventry City of Culture. I showed the animated portraits, as well as a slideshow of stills. it was the first time I had presented the work in a meidcal setting and I found the atmosphere invigorating. It gave me new insight into how clinical trials lead the way to greater understanding of new approaches.
The Maternity Research theme is led by Professor Debra Bick of Warwick Clinical Trials Unit (WCTU), whose appointment established the research theme at Warwick. professor Bick is an academic advisor for The Holding Time Project and has given her time for a video interview, to be released alongside other events for Coventry City of Culture.
Professor Bick said: “We have a fantastic opportunity at Warwick to build on our track record of trials to improve outcomes of pregnancy and birth. There is a wealth of relevant research already taking place across the University. This theme will enable us to bring together and work with local, national and international collaborators to produce research which reflects maternal physical and psychological health before, during and after pregnancy.
“We aim to lead high profile, large multi-centre trials with colleagues and academic centres across the UK and internationally to improve outcomes of pregnancy and birth. The evidence and outcomes we generate will also contribute to policy, guidelines and pre-and post-registration education programmes, including those offered by Warwick Medical School.”
Professor Gavin Perkins, Director of the Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, said: “Bringing together researchers, clinicians and professionals under this new theme focused on the health of mothers and their infants demonstrates how we are continuing to expand the range of health challenges that our award-winning Clinical Trials Unit aims to tackle. With our strong partnership with University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, we are in the ideal position to speed our work into clinical practice and benefit patients sooner.”
Information on how The Holding Time Project will be working together with the Maternity Themed Clinical trials Unit can be found at https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/med/research/ctu/maternity/cocbreastfeeding/
