Strengthening International Collaboration to Accelerate Preterm Birth Research
Borne’s commitment to preventing premature birth extends far beyond funding individual research projects. Through collaboration with leading scientists and institutions around the world, we are helping to build the global research ecosystem needed to accelerate discoveries and improve outcomes for families.
Recently, Borne’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor Michael Taggart, visited the Universitat Politècnica de València in Spain at the invitation of Dr Yiyao Li and colleagues at the Centro de Investigación e Innovación en Bioingeniería (CI2B).
The visit brought together researchers with a shared goal: advancing our understanding of the causes of preterm birth and identifying new opportunities to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
During the visit, Professor Taggart participated in a series of scientific meetings focused on how computational data analysis and bioengineering approaches can help address some of the most complex challenges in pregnancy and preterm birth research.
As advances in technology generate increasingly large and complex datasets, researchers are exploring innovative ways to use computational methods to identify patterns, uncover biological mechanisms and accelerate scientific discovery. These approaches have the potential to provide new insights into the factors that contribute to premature birth and support the development of more effective interventions.
Building international partnerships
Professor Taggart also delivered a presentation outlining Borne’s mission to end premature birth, highlighting the charity’s scientific priorities, collaborative approach and research funding opportunities.
The visit provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships with researchers across Europe and explore areas of future collaboration. Dr Li currently leads two European collaborative networks focused on preterm birth research, bringing together experts from multiple countries, including the UK.
These networks reflect the increasingly international nature of scientific research and the importance of sharing expertise, resources and knowledge across borders.
A growing role within European research collaborations
Borne is proud to be registered as an EU Associate Partner within these collaborative networks. This position enables the charity to contribute as a third-sector partner alongside academic institutions, healthcare organisations and industry leaders in future research programmes. By participating in these collaborations, Borne can help connect researchers, facilitate knowledge exchange and ensure that scientific discoveries are translated into real-world impact for women, babies and families.
Accelerating progress through collaboration
Premature birth remains one of the greatest challenges in maternal and newborn health worldwide. No single institution, country or discipline can solve it alone.
By fostering international partnerships and supporting collaborative research networks, Borne is helping to bring together the expertise needed to tackle this global problem more effectively.
Every new connection, shared insight and collaborative opportunity moves us one step closer to understanding the causes of preterm birth and ultimately preventing it.
Because every week counts.
