Referral Notes:

  • NYU Langone has joined the Perinatal Research Consortium (PRC), opening the door to large-scale, multicenter studies with streamlined IRB and shared infrastructure.
  • The 11-site PRC provides access to diverse patient cohorts and alternative funding, in addition to traditional NIH sources.
  • Initial PRC studies with NYU Langone participation will focus on cardiovascular changes in preelampsia and the potential of L-arginine therapy to prolong latency among patients with preeclampsia with severe features.

Major gaps persist in perinatal and maternal health research, especially concerning racial and ethnic disparities, the impact of social determinants on health, and postpartum mental health.

Researchers and healthcare providers are working to bridge these gaps, especially in New York and the surrounding region, where improvements in maternal and infant health outcomes are needed.

In support of these efforts, subspecialists from NYU Langone Health have joined the Perinatal Research Consortium (PRC), which provides the necessary infrastructure to perform large, multicenter studies in perinatal and women’s health. The consortium’s application process is selective, says Justin S. Brandt, MD, director of NYU Langone’s Division of Maternal–Fetal Medicine and Maternal–Fetal Medicine Fellowship, with the institution applying before receiving an invitation to participate.

The aims of the consortium are to foster and strengthen interinstitutional collaborations, train the next generation of research scientists, and accelerate the translation of discoveries into evidence-based practice changes.

“Joining the PRC is an incredible opportunity for our researchers to bring their ideas to life.”

Justin S. Brandt, MD

“Collaboration across institutions is paramount to build relationships that expand opportunities for innovation and discovery,” says Dr. Brandt. “Joining the PRC is an incredible opportunity for our researchers to bring their ideas to life.” 

A Proven Record of Success 

Founded in 2005 with four member institutions, the consortium has since grown to include 11 perinatal centers and has significantly expanded and developed its infrastructure to support research activities.

The PRC serves as a valuable resource for not only individual researchers but also institutions and industry partners, offering a single institutional review board (IRB), large racially and ethnically diverse patient populations, and a flexible, pragmatic approach to funding acquisition.

Over the past decade, the consortium has been involved in several practice-changing trials in perinatal and women’s health, including the nuMoM2b Heart Health Study, Chronic Hypertension and Pregnancy (CHAP) Project, and Medical Optimization and Management of Pregnancies with Overt Type 2 Diabetes (MOMPOD) trial.

Dr. Brandt says that when he joined NYU Langone more than two years ago, he inquired with the PRC about membership but was told the consortium had no immediate plans to expand.

“I continued to inquire about joining and applied as soon as I could,” he says, after the PRC membership committee voted to accept new member sites. “I believe we were accepted because NYU Langone’s large and diverse patient population was valued by the membership committee.”

“Combining our local expertise with the existing infrastructure of the consortium made it a win-win for both sides.” 

Ashley S. Roman, MD

“NYU Langone is well-known for its successful execution of large multicenter studies with diverse patient populations,” says Ashley S. Roman, MD, the Silverman Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a co-investigator at the PRC with Dr. Brandt. “Combining our local expertise with the existing infrastructure of the consortium made it a win-win for both sides.” 

Research Funding: The Power of Pragmatism

Recent shifts in government policy have led to cuts in NIH funding, requiring researchers to be more flexible and pragmatic in their pursuit of funding. A key benefit of PRC membership, Dr. Brandt says, is the ability to access alternative funding sources, including philanthropy and industry partnerships. Since its inception, the consortium has secured over $20 million in both federal and industry support.

“A primary goal of the PRC is to simplify the funding acquisition process,” Dr. Brandt says, “which occurs by being strategic and efficient with grant proposals.”

Dr. Brandt notes that submitting grant proposals with the backing of the PRC’s infrastructure boosts the odds of being awarded funding. This can be attributed in part due to the single IRB—streamlining processes and maximizing efficiency—as well as the high volume and diversity of patients within the PRC.

“We can leverage the PRC’s infrastructure and backbone as a foundational element for a new research proposal,” Dr. Brandt explains. “With 11 large research-based sites that can supply patients, alongside a central IRB, our proposals carry much more weight.”

Bringing New Ideas to Life

Drs. Brandt, Roman, and their team, have already agreed to participate in two new consortium-backed studies. The first, an NIH-funded trial called the Study of Heart function in PRE-Eclampsia during and after PreGnancy (SHe-PREG), is evaluating how race/ethnicity impact heart function and characterizing the cardiomyopathic genetic underpinnings in racially diverse females with preeclampsia.

The second study, which hasn’t yet started recruiting patients, is an open-label, multicenter randomized trial evaluating the potential benefit of L-arginine use in patients with severe preeclampsia.

“Our goal is to gain a better understanding of the genetic underpinning of preeclampsia and explore novel strategies to improve outcomes,” Dr. Brandt says. “Soon our team will propose studies to the PRC as well. I’m looking forward to bringing our ideas and proposals to the consortium.”