Meeting of the Clinical Studies Group for Pre Term Birth
Wednesday 7 November at 2pm - Teleconference
On the call:
Professor Jane Norman, Professor of Maternal and Fetal Health, University of Edinburgh (JN) (Chair)
Professor Phil Bennett, Professor of Obstetrics, Imperial College (PRB)
Professor Steve Thornton, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (ST)
Caroline Johnston, AMR (CJ)
Apologies
Professor Andrew Shennan, Professor of Obstetrics, St. Thomas’ Hospital (AS)
Dr Sara Kenyon, Birmingham (SK)
Dr Rachel Tribe, Senior Lecturer, King’s College London (RT)
Professor David Field, BAPM Representative (DF)
Tracy Swinfield, AMR Representative (TS)
Dr Shalini Patni, Consultant Obstetrician, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital (SP)
Absent
Professor Siobhan Quenby, Professor, Warwick University (SQ)
Professor Peter Brocklehurst, Director of the Institute for Women's Health, UCL (PB)
Professor Neil Marlow, BAPM Representative (NM)
1. The minutes of previous PTB CSG meeting were approved. Matters arising in the minutes are included below
2. Progress on applications:
PI Phil Bennett Cervical length indicated cervical cerclage in the management of pregnancy after cone biopsy– through to the last funding round, decision expected from HTA next month.
PI Phil Bennett Biomarker Prediction of Early Preterm Birth– through to the last round, decision expected from MRC Stratified Medicine Board next month.
PI Rachel Tribe. Why are women who have cervical intraepithelial neoplasia at increased risk of preterm labour?– submitted as full application to Action Medical Research – unsuccessful.
PI David Field Towards primary prevention of preterm births: Variation of biomarkers with deprivation and with other known risk factors for preterm births.. CSG were asked to comment on this application in September 2012. Supportive comments fed back to applicant – project has now been submitted (JEN to check funding body).
PI Zarko Alfirevic Can personalised antenatal care for low risk women, based on a sequential risk assessments, increase the number of healthy mothers and babies born at term without significant increase in cost to NHS?. Unsuccessful at EME. Not known to be being submitted elsewhere. JEN to follow up with PI
PI Mara Kyrgiou Fellowship application for–PB to chase up details.
Other applications on which the CSG asked to comment:
PI. Dr G Taylor The immunological basis for increased Preterm Delivery in HIV-1 infected pregnant women and the influence of different treatment classes Principal Researcher/ACF Dr C Short
Comments due by 16th November.
3. Minutes of RCOG research committee (attached).
It was noted that the RCOG research committee were asking for research priorities to be identified from each CSG. It is anticipated that these would be used to generate a prioritisation list from the whole group, so that these could be fed back to the HTA.
4. Process for appointing new CSG members / membership in general.
Several applications have been received for CSG membership. AS and PB offered to help JEN look through them and identify those who should be interviewed / appointed. JEN mentioned that we should consider having an core executive (who are required to comment on proposals and who have travel expenses paid) and a wider working group who are invited to comment on proposals and who are welcome to attend meetings but who do not have travel expenses paid. This is line with what some other CSGs (maternal medicine and intrapartum care) do. The group agreed that this would be helpful. JEN will contact all current CSG members to ask if they wish to remain on the group and if they would prefer to remain on the executive group or on the working group.
5. Research priorities (pro forma attached)
JEN had collated research priorities and a strategy for ranking them. The group had considerable discussion about the spread sheet, and some suggestions were made for changes. JEN will revise and resend.
6. Finances (attached)
The total remaining in the budget is £396.07. AMR have generously agreed to donate some more funds. JEN will follow up with Tracey Swinfield to confirm the amount and the funding duration.
7. Letter from RCOG (attached)
The RCOG letter to CSG funders, asking if these funds could be continued until 2015 was circulated and discussed.
8. Plans for next year
a. Continue research prioritisation
b. Consider project on Arabin pessary efficacy when OPPTIMUM ends – there was considerable discussion about inclusion and exclusion criteria. JEN will follow up with a protocol.
9. Format of next meeting
The group agreed to hold a meeting on the afternoon of April 24th In Dublin immediately prior to the BMFMS. It is not anticipated that travel expenses will required for members to go to this meeting. JEN will sort out a venue.
10. Lay membership
Still requires action. Tracey Swinfield suggests that Bliss would be a good group to ask for suggestions.
11. AOCB
Nil
12. Date of Next Meeting
24th April 2013 in Dublin.