NICHD Maternal Fetal Medicine Units Network

描述（由申请人提供）：阿拉巴马大学伯明翰分校母胎医学部（DAB）致力于持续高水平参与NICHD MFMU网络，以调查临床产科问题，特别是与低出生体重、早产和妊娠医学并发症相关的问题。我们在这些领域进行临床试验方面拥有丰富的经验，并拥有强大、稳定和成熟的研究基础设施。在过去的三年里，我们一直是MFMU网络五年周期的参与中心。在此期间，我们在指导和小组委员会层面为网络提供研究方向，作为网络试验的贡献者，以及在这些试验产生的数据的展示和出版方面发挥了领导作用。目前有9名不同的UAB调查人员曾担任或正在担任网络协议主席或小组委员会成员。三分之一的网络出版物是由UAB研究者首次发表的，在2002-2005年全国会议上发表的95篇网络报告中，UAB研究者发表了21篇。在当前的5年周期中，在患者招募、方案遵守、保留和随访、数据质量、研究启动时间等方面，MFMU网络数据协调中心在14个参与中心中排名第一。如果在这次竞争性的重新申请中获得成功，我们的设施、设备、数据管理系统（包括电子围产期记录系统）、招聘资源和众多训练有素的人员将继续为MFMU网络协议和项目服务。我们相信，作为NICHD MFMU网络中心，我们将在未来五年内保持良好的竞争力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (DAB) has a strong commitment to a continued high-level of participation in the NICHD MFMU Network for the purpose of investigating problems in clinical obstetrics, particularly those related to low birth weight, prematurity, and medical complications of pregnancy. We have extensive experience in performing clinical trials in these areas, and a strong, stable, and proven research infrastructure. We have been a participating center for the past three 5-year cycles of the MFMU Network. During that time, we have played a leadership role in providing research direction for the Network at the Steering and sub-committee levels, as a contributor to the conduct of Network trials, and in the presentation and publication of data generated by these trials. Nine different current UAB investigators have served or are serving as Network protocol chairmen or subcommittee members. One-third of Network publications have been first-authored by a UAB investigator, and of 95 total Network presentations at national meetings from 2002-2005, a UAB investigator presented 21. In the current 5-year cycle, on the basis of patient recruitment, protocol adherence, retention and follow-up, data quality, and study start-up time, the MFMU Network Data Coordinating Center ranked us #1 among the 14 participating centers. If successful in this competitive reapplication, our facilities, equipment, data management systems (including our electronic perinatal record system), recruitment resources, and numerous trained personnel will continue to be harnessed in the service of MFMU Network protocols and projects. We believe that we remain well positioned for competitive renewal as an NICHD MFMU Network center for the next five years.