New study findings add to research knowledge about this complex
topic Preterm birth, defined as birth before the fetus is at 37
weeks’ gestation, is a major public health priority for the
United States and a major research priority for the NICHD. In
2003, one out of every eight infants born was preterm—accounting
for more than $18.1 billion in hospital expenditures. Preterm
infants are at high risk for a variety of disorders, including
intellectual and developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, and
vision impairment. These infants are also at high risk for long-
term health issues, including cardiovascular disease (heart
attack, stroke, and high blood pressure) and diabetes. The NICHD
supports and conducts a large portfolio on preterm birth. Among
the main goals of this research is finding a way to prevent
births from occurring before an infant is strong enough to
survive outside the womb. Because women who have one preterm
birth are considered to be at high risk for another preterm
birth, investigators have