Information about the Stillbirth Clinical Study Group (CSG)
Sponsor: Sands – Stillbirth & neonatal death charity
Chair: Dr Sarah Stock
Aims
The Stillbirth CSG was set up in March 2011. The executive committee comprises representatives from midwifery, obstetrics, pathology, epidemiology and public health as well as input from statisticians and modelling experts. It also has Sands and parental representation.
Stillbirth affects 1 in 200 babies after 24 weeks of gestation and is one of the most common of the serious complications of pregnancy, affecting the lives of around 4000 families every year in the UK. The majority (~90%) of stillborn babies do not have a lethal congenital abnormality and the majority of mothers experiencing stillbirth do not have a major pre-existing medical condition. The current methods of screening low-risk women are virtually unchanged in recent years and crude in comparison with other screening tools, such as those used for Down syndrome. Therefore, there is a need to improve the detection of babies at risk of stillbirth coupled with safe and effective intervention.
The Stillbirth CSG meets approximately every 6 months to:
- Identify priorities for research into stillbirth
- Propose and develop well designed studies including trials
- Consider studies proposed by members of the group and others
- Provide specific advice to investigators
- Ensure stakeholder involvement
Research proposals
Given the limitations of funding in this area, the Stillbirth CSG is hoping to unify research priorities and proposals to maximise their effectiveness and welcomes collaboration from researchers interested in this area. Please contact us if you have a study you would like to discuss, or if you have a suggestion for a research priority for funders. To submit your study for consideration, please complete the project proforma and email it to Dr Sarah Stock sarah.stock@ed.ac.uk or Janet Scott janet.scott@uk-sands.org at least 2 weeks before our meeting dates.
Contact
For specific enquiries, please email Dr Sarah Stock sarah.stock@ed.ac.uk
Further information
For more information, including meeting dates and minutes of previous meetings, please visit the Stillbirth CSG website.
For information about other CSGs, please visit the Clinical Study Groups page.
If you are a member of the Stillbirth CSG, you can view the clinical study research recommendation database by signing in to the website and then going to the research recommendation page.