EPRT launches new website

Providing an easy means to find out about the latest research.

Edinburgh Pregnancy Research Team (EPRT), a group of health/science professionals working together in pregnancy research across the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian, has today launched its new website: www.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-pregnancy-research

Headed by Professor Rebecca Reynolds (Centre for Cardiovascular Science) and Dr Sarah Stock (The Usher Institute), EPRT is focused on perinatal research to improve outcomes and experiences in pregnancy. Initially funded as a Tommy’s research centre within the Centre for Reproductive Health, the team was founded at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in April 2008 by Professor Jane Norman, and subsequently led by the late Professor Fiona Denison. Over the years, its research has focused on three main themes: maternal obesity, technologies and data-drive innovations, and preterm birth.

Key achievements include:

  • The creation of the Edinburgh Reproductive Tissue BioBank, a major national repository of biological samples available to researchers from around the world - most recently collecting placental tissue from pregnant women affected by Covid-19.
  • Pioneering specialist care for obese pregnant women, a population affected by a doubled risk of stillbirth; its Metabolic Clinic has provided a blueprint care pathway for detecting potentially life-threatening problems early, in order to offer timely interventions.
  • The establishment of Scotland's first specialist Preterm Birth Clinic, at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh hospital, as well as leading numerous clinical trials into preventing preterm birth and stillbirth.

Situated in the state-of-the-art buildings of the Queen’s Medical Research Institute, in 2021 the team was renamed the Edinburgh Pregnancy Research Team. It includes the expertise of a diverse group of specialists - researchers, research midwives and laboratory staff - working together to further pregnancy research.

The new website provides an easy means for women, families, clinicians and researchers to find out more about the latest research studies and trials happening within the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian. The team also shares research news and findings via its various social media channels:

Twitter @edipregresearch

Instagram @EdinburghPregnancyResearchTeam

Facebook @EdinburghPregnancyResearchTeam