Tommy’s research priorities

As many as one in four pregnancies result in miscarriage and many families who have experienced miscarriage ask the same questions:

  • Why did it happen?
  • Will it happen again?
  • Can it be stopped?
  • How can we bear it emotionally?

We are working on finding the answers. In collaboration with researchers at the University of Birmingham and around the country, we pursue research studies aiming to save babies’ lives by turning scientific discoveries into important tests and treatments.

Professor Arri Coomarasamy, Director of Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research, says: “The West Midlands has an unrivalled track record in pioneering early pregnancy care, and especially in leading clinical trials of interventions that could prevent the heartbreak of miscarriage.”

If you attend our recurrent miscarriage clinic then we may invite you to consider taking part in one of our active clinical trials or other studies.

Studies

  • Cell free fetal DNA study - This project will show whether or not samples of cell free fetal DNA in maternal blood samples could help us to ascertain genetic reasons for early miscarriages
  • Sperm DNA fragmentation study - This project explores the role of sperm DNA damage in the male partner of couples with multiple miscarriages
  • Immune phenotyping study - We are investigating whether adaptations of the maternal immune system could be implicated in recurrent miscarriage
  • Qualitative study of men living through multiple miscarriages - This project explores the experiences of men who have lived through two or more pregnancies ending in miscarriage, with the most recent loss no more than 12 months ago, in order to better understand any support requirements that could be helpful to individuals and families affected by multiple miscarriages

Some of our studies are designed to suit women and couples with particular medical conditions. If you have been referred to our service and you would like to participate in any of our studies, our trained clinicians will assess your eligibility to take part and discuss the next steps with you.

Please be aware that clinical trial participants will be allocated to receive either the test or treatment that is being studied, or another test or treatment (usually standard care). Neither you nor your doctor or nurse will be able to choose your allocation, or even know the allocation until the end of the study.

If you would like to know more please telephone 0121 607 4795 to speak to the team.

The following studies are not recruiting new participants, but are still caring for those patients already participating, and we look forward to trial results very soon.

  • PRISM trial - The PRISM trial seeks to find out whether progesterone could prevent miscarriage in women with early pregnancy bleeding, a known sign of threatened miscarriage. In July 2017 the study completed our recruitment of more than 4,150 women from across the UK
  • TABLET trial - The TABLET trial seeks to evaluate the effects of thyroxine to prevent miscarriage in women with thyroid antibodies but normal thyroid function. In January 2016, the study completed our recruitment of more than 900 women after screening almost 10,000 participants from across the UK
  • RESPONSE trial - The RESPONSE trial tests a new medication, called NT100, in women with unexplained repeated miscarriages. The study is designed to find out if the medication could improve the chances of maintaining a successful pregnancy, and whether it brings any side effects