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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Obstetrics and Gynecology

Maternal-Fetal Medicine Research

Maternal-fetal medicine specialists at Indiana University School of Medicine are national leaders in researching new ways to care for women with high-risk pregnancies. Many of these studies have led to the development of new clinical recommendations and researchers receive grants and funding from a variety of agencies, including the National Institutes of Health.

The maternal-fetal medicine division has a strong record of basic science, clinical/translational and epidemiologic research. This includes membership in the Consortium on Safe Labor, Obstetric-Fetal Pharmacology Research Units Network and Nulliparous Network of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (nuMoM2b). The team also has long-standing partnerships with Regenstrief Institute for informatics and health care research in Indianapolis.

Clinical Trials

People with high-risk pregnancies can participate in clinical trials with IU School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Laboratories

The division supports an obstetric clinical pharmacology lab with space and resources for basic and translational study techniques for therapeutics in pregnant people.

PREGMED Program

The Pharmacogenetics and Therapeutics Research in Maternal and Child Health (PREGMED) program focuses on developing personalized therapeutic approaches for pregnant women and children using analytic, genomic and computational techniques.

PREGMED Fellowship

Active Research

Principal Investigator: Hiba Mustafa, MD

Coordinator: Rachel Tullar

This study aims to investigate the hypothesis that delivery at 35 0/7- 35 6/7 weeks in stable patients with gastroschisis is superior to observation and expectant management with a goal of delivery at 38 0/7 - 38 6/7 weeks. We will complete a randomized, prospective, multi-institutional trial across NAFTNet-affiliated institutions to test this hypothesis. Patients may be enrolled in the study any time before 33 weeks but will be randomized at 33 weeks to delivery at 35 weeks or observation with a goal of 38 weeks. The primary composite outcome will include stillbirth, neonatal death before discharge, respiratory morbidity and the need for parenteral nutrition at 30 days.

Principal Investigator: Christina Scifres, MD

Coordinator: Sarah Oswalt

The expected outcome of this study is high-quality evidence of the effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of intensive glycemic targets in reducing adverse perinatal outcomes among overweight and obese women with GDM. If proven effective, the use of intensive glycemic targets in overweight and obese women with GDM will have a significant positive impact on the health of these high-risk women and their infants.  

Principal Investigator: Christina Scifres, MD

Coordinator: Sarah Oswalt

The goal of PRAM-T1D is to collect real-world data on strategies currently employed by pregnant individuals with T1D in the United States to manage their disease and assess glycemic and pregnancy outcomes associated with these strategies, with a particular focus on the use of diabetes technology. 

Principal Investigator: Brownsyne Tucker Edmonds, MD, MPH

Coordinator: Shelley Hoffman

Pregnant people in Indiana experience mortality and morbidity at rates that significantly outpace the national average. Of the reviewed pregnancy-related deaths in Indiana in 2020, the Indiana State Department of Health determined 87% of these to be preventable. Indiana data suggests using additional pregnancy healthcare specialists, such as doulas, could reduce these rates. Birth doulas are trained to provide physical, emotional, and educational support to birthing people during the prenatal period, labor, birth and immediately postpartum.