Maternal Fetal Medicine Units Network (MFMU)

Since the inception of the Network in 1986, a total of 58 studies (33 randomized trials and 25 observational studies) have been completed or are in process. As of January 2024, Network investigators have made over 650 presentations and published over 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts.

The major aims of the MFMU Network are to:

Reduce the rates of preterm birth, fetal growth abnormalities, newborn morbidity, and maternal complications of pregnancy
Evaluate maternal and fetal interventions for efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness

VISIT STUDY WEBSITE

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S)

Rebecca Clifton

ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATOR(S)

RESEARCH STAFF

Linda Andrews, Katia Barrett, Trish Boekhoudt, Brendan Broderick, Sandy Coppage, Roja Kambhampati, Sarah Khatib, Pramiksha Marcharchand, Paula McGee, Celia Mullowney, Marilyn Villanueva, Steve Weiner

MAJOR PUBLICATIONS

Hoffman Matthew K, Clifton Rebecca G, Biggio Joseph R, Saade George R, Ugwu Lynda G, Longo Monica, Bousleiman Sabine Z, Clark Kelly, Grobman William A, Frey Heather A, Chauhan Suneet P, Dugoff Lorraine, Manuck Tracy A, Chien Edward K, Rouse Dwight J, Simhan Hyagriv N, Esplin MSean, Macones George A. Cervical Pessary for Prevention of Preterm Birth in Individuals With a Short Cervix: The TOPS Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA : The Journal Of The American Medical Association, 2023;330(4):340-348

Pacheco Luis D, Clifton Rebecca G, Saade George R, Weiner Steven J, Parry Samuel, Thorp John M, Longo Monica, Salazar Ashley, Dalton Wendy, Tita Alan TN, Gyamfi-Bannerman Cynthia, Chauhan Suneet P, Metz Torri D, Rood Kara, Rouse Dwight J, Bailit Jennifer L, Grobman William A, Simhan Hyagriv N, Macones George A. Tranexamic Acid to Prevent Obstetrical Hemorrhage after Cesarean Delivery. The New England Journal Of Medicine, 2023;388(15):1365-1375.

Hughes Brenna L, Clifton Rebecca G, Rouse Dwight J, Saade George R, Dinsmoor Mara J, Reddy Uma M, Pass Robert, Allard Donna, Mallett Gail, Fette Lida M, Gyamfi-Bannerman Cynthia, Varner Michael W, Goodnight William H, Tita Alan TN, Costantine Maged M, Swamy Geeta K, Gibbs Ronald S, Chien Edward K, Chauhan Suneet P, El-Sayed Yasser Y, Casey Brian M, Parry Samuel, Simhan Hyagriv N, Napolitano Peter G, Macones George A. A Trial of Hyperimmune Globulin to Prevent Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection. The New England Journal Of Medicine, 2021;385(5):436-444.

Grobman WA, Rice MM, Reddy UM, Tita ATN, Silver RM, Mallett G, Hill K, Thom EA, El-Sayed YY, Perez-Delboy A, Rouse DJ, Saade GR, Boggess KA, Chauhan SP, Iams JD, Chien EK, Casey BM, Gibbs RS, Srinivas SK, Swamy GK, Simhan HN, Macones GA; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network. Labor induction versus expectant management in low-risk nulliparous women. N Eng J Med. 2018 August 9: 379(6): 513-523. PMC6186292

Casey BM, Thom EA, Peaceman AM, Varner MW, Sorokin Y, Hirtz DG, Reddy UM, Wapner RJ, Thorp JM Jr, Saade G, Tita AT, Rouse DJ, Sibai B, Iams JD, Mercer BM, Tolosa J, Caritis SN, VanDorsten JP; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal–Fetal Medicine Units Network. Treatment of Subclinical Hypothyroidism or Hypothyroxinemia in Pregnancy. N Engl J Med. 2017 Mar 2;376(9):815-825. PMC5605129

Gyamfi-Bannerman C, Thom EA, Blackwell SC, Tita AT, Reddy UM, Saade GR, Rouse DJ, McKenna DS, Clark EA, Thorp JM Jr, Chien EK, Peaceman AM, Gibbs RS, Swamy GK, Norton ME, Casey BM, Caritis SN, Tolosa JE, Sorokin Y, VanDorsten JP, Jain L; NICHD Maternal–Fetal Medicine Units Network. Antenatal Betamethasone for Women at Risk for Late Preterm Delivery. N Engl J Med. 2016 Apr 7;374(14):1311-20. PMC4823164

Belfort MA, Saade GR, Thom E, Blackwell SC, Reddy UM, Thorp JM Jr, Tita AT, Miller RS, Peaceman AM, McKenna DS, Chien EK, Rouse DJ, Gibbs RS, El-Sayed YY, Sorokin Y, Caritis SN, VanDorsten JP; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal–Fetal Medicine Units Network. A Randomized Trial of Intrapartum Fetal ECG ST-Segment Analysis. N Engl J Med. 2015 Aug 13;373(7):632-41. PMC4631435

Thom EA, Rice MM, Saade GR, Reddy UM, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal–Fetal Medicine Units Network. What we have learned about the design of randomized trials in pregnancy. Semin Perinatol. 2016 Aug;40(5):328-34. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.semperi.2016.03.011. PMC5080531

Salazar A, Tolivaisa S, Allard D, Bishop TS, Bousleiman S, Clark K, Dalton W, Harris S, Hale K, Hill K, Johnson F, Mallett G, Moseley L, Ortiz F, Willson C, Thom EA; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. What we have learned about best practices for recruitment and retention in multicenter pregnancy studies. Semin Perinatol. 2016 Aug;40(5):321-7. doi:10.1053/j.semperi.2016.03.010PMID:27174555 PMC5076374

Wapner RJ, Gyamfi-Bannerman C, Thom EA, for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. What we have learned about antenatal corticosteroid regimens. Semin Perinat. 2016 Aug;40(5):291-7. doi:10.1053/j.semperi.2016.03.005. PMC6335646

The network is designed to focus on clinical questions in maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics, particularly with respect to the continuing problem of preterm birth.

A recently completed trial by the Network found that cervical pessary in nonlaboring individuals with a singleton gestation and with a cervical length of 20 mm or less did not decrease the risk of preterm birth and was associated with a higher rate of fetal or neonatal/infant mortality.

NICHD