Our research centres are independently reviewed every two years by leading professors from around the world.
In addition, each centre must report its own annual progress on key performance indicators. The key indicators are summarised below.
Each year the centres also report additional data on esteem indicators, grants that arose as a result of funding from Tommy's grants, new tools for research, training and career development, as well as impact on health policy, new products and inventions. To view these reports, please email us at [email protected]
Read about the impact of Tommy's work.
Balanced scorecard – Research (updated November 2017)
Centre location
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Research and clinical focus
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Major research discovery with potential to improve clinical practice
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Local clinical impact
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National clinical impact
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Manchester
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Stillbirth
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- Successfully packaged drugs to be selectively delivered to placental arteries, improving blood vessel function and fetal growth. Could be a potential treatment for growth restriction without side effects.
- Identified that placentas of older women work less well than younger women identifying cause of increased stillbirth risk.
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In 2017 stillbirth rate is 19% lower than it was in 2010.
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- Centre is leading the evaluation of the Government-backed NHS initiative to reduce stillbirth.
- Steering group member of perinatal mortality review tool.
- Steering committee of confidential enquiry into intrapartum stillbirth.
- NICE guideline – intrapartum care of high risk women.
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London
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Pre-term birth,
diabetes,
high blood pressure
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- Trial has shown that women with type 1 diabetes who have continuous glucose monitoring during pregnancy have improved outcomes.
- Specially developed blood pressure monitor has improved care for pregnant women in India.
- Prediction App for pre-term birth has been approved for use by NHS. It enables accurate prediction of whether a woman will give birth pre-term.
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- Referrals have doubled to over 200 per month.
- Year on year 21% reduction in pre-term birth at St Thomas’ Hospital.
- Diabetes clinic detection rate of GDM has increased from 5% to 30% which means that additional women are receiving the correct treatments.
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- Member of the DH policy unit on obesity in children.
- Appointed first Professor of Diabetes and Antenatal care
- Leading the National Maternal and Perinatal Audit.
- British maternal and fetal medicine society reviewing national guidelines for NICE and RCOG.
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Birmingham /
Warwick /
London
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Miscarriage
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- Underlying cause of miscarriage and later pregnancy problems discovered.
- Exact timing to intervene with treatment identified.
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- Reduced waiting times for referral and faster referral after miscarriage.
- Counselling services introduced.
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Member of ESHRE which has recommended that women are seen after two miscarriages (currently three) and has recommended standard tests should be available to all.
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Edinburgh
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Pre-term birth, obesity
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- OPPTIMUM study has shown that progesterone treatment does not reduce pre-term birth and has promoted a rethink research direction globally.
- Birth mirror developed and has won innovation prizes.
- AFFIRM study (stillbirth reduction) has been completed and due for publishing in 2018.Rates of stillbirth in Edinburgh dropped from 4.4 to 3.1 per 1000 following the intervention.
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- Stillbirth rate in Scotland has declined by 20% since 2008.
- Pre-term birth rate has remained static at 7.6%.
- The clinic for obese women has significantly better outcomes for mothers and babies (including lower stillbirth rates).
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- Leader on RCOG guidelines on obesity in pregnancy.
- Took part in Scottish Maternity Services Review.
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Read more about the recent achievements of our research centres.
