Helping Babies Even Before Birth

Our Institute members are helping to solve some of today’s most pressing child and maternal health issues.

Alberta has the highest rate of premature birth in the country, a condition associated with more than 75% of infant death and long-term disability. Dr. Suzanne Tough, Professor with the Departments of Pediatrics and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary and Epidemiologist at the Child Development Centre, Alberta Health Services, is co-leading a team of 21 investigators representing 13 different disciplines from Canada, the USA and Australia.

Tough’s team has been awarded a $5 million grant from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research to find ways to predict, prevent and treat pre-term birth.

The varied disciplines of the researchers on Tough’s team is enabling them to address the issue from all angles, including the basic science behind the problem, the problem's effects across our population, real solutions to be used in the clinic, and policy recommendations for government.