NZ expertise leads International Pregnancy Research Alliance

8 May 2013

New Zealand expertise leads International Pregnancy Research Alliance

New Zealand researchers will head up a new dedicated pregnancy research centre based in Chongqing Medical University in Western China which will bring together the talents and knowledge of researchers from China, Canada and New Zealand. The International Pregnancy Research Alliance (IPRA) will focus on discovering new ways to prevent and treat pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and premature birth.

Professor Philip Baker from The University of Auckland and the Director of NZ-Government funded Centre of Research Excellence Gravida has been appointed by the Chinese Government as a National Distinguished Professor and given the responsibility of running the new centre. The role recognises Professor Baker’s leadership in establishing the International Pregnancy Research Alliance.

Membership of the alliance will enable researchers from the three countries to access the Chongqing research centre and to collaborate on research projects with international colleagues. Prof Frank Bloomfield and Professor Mark Vickers from The University of Auckland’s Liggins Institute and Professor Baker travelled to Chongqing for the launch of the research centre and alliance last week. Professors Bloomfield and Baker are also practicising obstetric and paediatric specialists at National Women’s Hospital.

The alliance complements other scientific programmes with China announced recently by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Enterprise (MBIE) and the concept has received support from the Government’s Science and Innovation Promotion Fund.

“China is dedicated to investing in improving maternal health because of their high rate of infant mortality and the restricted size of their nuclear families,” says Professor Baker. “However, while they have capacity and scale, researchers in China recognise the high calibre of maternal and infant health research being undertaken in New Zealand. The quality of the research being performed in New Zealand, plus our willingness to collaborate with universities and institutions in China, makes us valued partners in any such international grouping. The fact that New Zealand researchers are highly respected for being able to rapidly translate research into patient benefits is another very positive attraction for international partners.”

Research by the alliance partners means expectant mothers and their babies in all three countries will be the first to reap the benefits of new knowledge to reduce the distress and ill health that major pregnancy complications carry. Babies of pregnancies complicated by these conditions suffer increased health problems throughout their lives, including heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. New knowledge in this crucial area of science will help many generations to come, says Professor Baker, and is specifically recognised in the second challenge of the newly-announced National Science Challenges entitled ‘A Better Start to Life’.

The alliance plans to expand its membership to other universities in China, Canada and New Zealand over time.

About Gravida: National Centre for Growth and Development
Gravida is a Government-funded national Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) which draws its members from New Zealand’s universities, medical schools, research institutions and farm sites. Its members are biomedical, clinical and animal scientists dedicated to finding out what factors and processes influence early life growth and development in both humans and animals, in order to identify future health and disease risk in the years to come. Findings in animal health often illuminate new scientific areas in human health, and vice versa. Gravida members benefit from international peer review, improved linkages and collaboration on research projects, funding and education events. The organisation is actively involved in the translation of its scientific findings into clinical practice, agricultural productivity, health promotion and education outreach in order to ensure the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.

Gravida is hosted by The University of Auckland and based on the Grafton medical campus. Its founding partners include AgResearch, Landcorp, The University of Auckland, The University of Canterbury, Massey University and The University of Otago.

Find out more about Gravida on the web: www.gravida.org.nz or Twitter: @gravidanz

ENDS

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