Every year, thousands of babies are born very preterm (VPT)—before 32 weeks of pregnancy—facing unique health challenges that can last a lifetime. A new research project, IMPROVE PRETERM, is bringing together experts and families from 13 countries to develop innovative solutions that ensure these children not only survive but thrive.
The IMPROVE PRETERM Project, which includes the Institute of Public Health of the University of Porto (ISPUP) as a partner, is working to improve how we care for VPT babies and their families by creating cost-effective, evidence-based tools and strategies. These efforts focus on improving long-term health outcomes, addressing developmental challenges, and enhancing overall quality of life.
Addressing Critical Challenges
Very preterm births represent a significant public health challenge, with affected individuals at risk of long-term health issues such as developmental delays, cerebral palsy, respiratory illnesses, and psychiatric disorders. While advances in neonatal care have improved survival rates, there is a pressing need for consistent, evidence-based practices to ensure optimal lifelong outcomes for the children. In addition, Families still face uncertainty about how to support their children’s development as they grow. Health professionals need better tools and evidence to make informed decisions about care, and families need resources they can trust.
What IMPROVE PRETERM Will Do:
Over the next four years, IMPROVE PRETERM will tackle some of the biggest challenges in VPT care:
– Better Treatments: The project will study treatments like corticosteroids to understand how to use them safely and effectively in babies born preterm for both short-term survival and long-term health.
– Improved Follow-Up Care: IMPROVE PRETERM will evaluate programs that monitor children’s development, helping identify and address potential issues early while supporting families.
– Smarter Vaccination Strategies: The research team will assess new vaccines and immunizations that could prevent severe respiratory infections, which are a major concern particularly for VPT babies.
A Patient-Centered Approach
IMPROVE PRETERM isn’t just about researchers and doctors—it’s about families, too. Parents, healthcare providers, and policymakers are at the heart of this effort, working together to ensure the solutions developed are practical, accessible, and impactful.
Prof. Dr. Jennifer Zeitlin, Perinatal Epidemiologist, Senior Research Scientist, at Inserm and Project Lead, explained: “IMPROVE PRETERM is a project built on collaboration. By listening to families and combining their insights with cutting-edge research, we can create tools and care strategies that truly make a difference.”
A Parent’s Perspective
For many families, having a very preterm baby can feel overwhelming. Silke Mader, Chairwoman of GFCNI and collaborative partner, whose children were born at 25 weeks, shared:
“When our twins were born so early, we didn’t know what to expect or how to navigate the challenges ahead. I very much welcome a project like IMPROVE PRETERM, which aims to give families like mine the tools and knowledge to support our children as they grow.”
Innovation Meets Impact
IMPROVE PRETERM is also creating cutting-edge tools, such as:
– A parent-friendly questionnaire that helps families monitor their child’s cognitive development between ages 5 and 7.
– A secure data platform that makes it easier for researchers to study real-world outcomes while protecting privacy.
The project is committed to open science, meaning all findings, tools, and resources will be freely shared to help improve care globally
The IMPROVE Research Project IMPROVE PRETERM has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation program under grant agreement 101156325.
The IMPROVE PRETERM Project is funded by the Horizon Europe Program and involves a diverse team of healthcare professionals, researchers, and families from across Europe. Its goal is to provide families, clinicians, and policymakers with better tools and evidence to give very preterm children the best start in life.
For more information about the IMPROVE PRETERM Project, please visit the website https://improve-preterm.eu/.
