Women's health research

As our research programme continues to grow, our vision is to deliver cutting-edge research for women and families using our services.

Our research is delivered by research midwives and nurses, as well as obstetricians, midwives, maternity support workers and sonographers. Together, we aim to ensure you are fully supported to make an informed decision about taking part in research, if you wish to do so.

Our women’s health research includes large-scale studies conducted across multiple hospitals in the UK and smaller local studies delivered solely by us.

As a growing research team, we are always looking for new research opportunities that align with and enhance the services we provide.

Maternity research

ADAPT-HEAT

Through a questionnaire, ADAPT-HEAT would like to better understand how people view hot weather in England and the impact this has on their experience of pregnancy and the newborn period. This is available to anyone caring for a baby under 1 year of age (e.g. partners, grandparents). 

AIM4SafeBaby

AIM4SafeBaby is aiming to develop an Artificial Intelligence Clinical Decision System (AICDS) that supports obstetricians and midwives to better interpret CTG data (fetal heart tracing) during labour and birth to help reduce poor neonatal outcomes.

Retrospective anonymous data is currently being collected to help ‘train’ the AICDS. If you have opted out of NHS Data Sharing , your data will not be used. 

DOMINO

DOMINO is looking at how pregnancy care can be improved for people with type 1 and early-onset type 2 diabetes.

The study wants to find out how the pancreas functions during pregnancy by looking at a protein called C-peptide. This protein may help us better predict pregnancy outcomes for this group of people. 

MAMA

MAMA is looking at the effects of stopping or continuing biologics for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis in pregnancy. 

MFIB

MFIB is looking at how certain components in the blood change over time when someone is experiencing heavy bleeding after birth. This will help us understand and manage these heavy bleeds better. 

PIONEER

PIONEER is investigating whether taking Pravastatin reduces the number of babies born too early (preterm) before 37 weeks of pregnancy, in pregnant people who are at medium to high risk of preterm birth. The study also aims to understand how Pravastatin prevents preterm birth. 

STARshiP

STARshiP is looking at whether implementing a new screening tool from the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) is better at identifying pregnant people at risk of pre-eclampsia compared to the current screening strategy (NICE) in place in the UK*. 

STARshiP is an opt-out study. You can opt-out using the information provided on the STARshiP website.

*MTW are currently using the NICE pre-eclampsia risk screening method (standard care). The FMF screening tool will be implemented around September 2028.

Previous research in maternity

DIvO 

DIvO used a digital imaging device (infrared camera) to screen for congenital cataract in babies under 72 hours old. 1,722 babies had an additional eye test as part of DIvO between August 2024 and August 2025; thank you to all the families that took part. 

Outcome: Awaiting findings.

OBS UK

OBS UK looked at whether the introduction of a specific care bundle for the management of bleeding after your baby is born can improve outcomes for women and parents.

13,500 women used our maternity services while this care bundle was in place. Owing to its success, the care bundle is continuing as standard care.

Outcome: Awaiting results.  

PRESTIGE-PTG

PRESTIGE-PTB wanted to find out which genetic factors are linked to premature birth, using a technology called Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS). 85 people who had experienced a spontaneous preterm birth over 16 weeks gestation took part at MTW in 2025. 

Outcome: Awaiting results.

CaPE

CaPE looked at whether additional calcium during pregnancy reduces pre-eclampsia in women and pregnant people at increased risk. 70 people from MTW took part in CaPE between July 2023 and May 2025. thank you!  

Outcome: Awaiting results.  

SONAR-1

SONAR-1 aimed to estimate how many women and birthing people who experience a caesarean birth witness pain during the operation. 20 people took part at MTW during the study.

Outcome: Awaiting results.

GBS3

GBS3 looked at whether offering a routine test for group B Streptococcus (GBS) either during their pregnancy or during labour reduces the risk of GBS disease in the newborn baby. Between May 2022 and December 2023, over 4,800 people took part in GBS3 and opted to receive a test for GBS during labour.

Outcome: Awaiting results.

CRAFT

CRAFT looked at the risk of pre-term birth in women and birthing people with a history of previous caesarean section in labour.

Outcome: Women and birthing people with a previous caesarean section at 10cm dilated (full dilatation) face a 3- to 5-fold increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies. 

Big Baby Trial

The Big Baby Trial aimed to find out if starting labour earlier than usual (inducing) at 38 weeks, makes it less likely that shoulder dystocia (when the head is born but there is a delay in delivering the shoulders) will happen in women whose babies appear to be bigger than expected (over the 90th centile on the growth chart).

Outcome: The findings of this study were been published in The Lancet in May 2025. 

Pregnancy loss research

Tommy’s Net

Tommy’s Net would like to gain a better understanding of why couples suffer miscarriage and how best to prevent and manage early pregnancy loss in the future. 

Previous pregnancy loss research

CORE-10

CORE-10 is testing the accuracy of a questionnaire in identifying people with psychological distress following a miscarriage.

12 women took part in this crucial study in January 2026; thank you for your support. 

Outcome: Awaiting findings.

MiNNES 20-2 8

MiNESS 20-28 is looking at whether there are any medical or modifiable lifestyle factors that may be associated with the loss of a baby between 20-28 weeks of pregnancy.

Gynaecology research

We do not have any gynaecology studies open at this time

Previous research in gynaecology

APPRAISE

APPRAISE was developing a patient reported outcome measure to understand people’s experiences following corrective surgery using polypropylene mesh for pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. 

16 women took part in APPRAISE between July and November 2025; thank you.

How to get involved 

If you may be interested in taking part in one of our studies and would like more information, please contact the Women’s Health Research team.

Asking for information does not mean you have to take part. Participation in research is entirely voluntary. Choosing not to take part will not affect your care in any way.

mtw-tr.womenshealth-research@nhs.net

01892 638641