Upcoming

Assessing the Effectiveness of Cerebroplacental Ratio Measurement for Monitoring Post-Dates Pregnancies: A Pilot Study

Principal Investigator: Yasser Sabr

Funding: Women’s Health Research Institute Catalyst Grant

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In Progress

Placenta, FEtal Brain BLood flow, and Substance Use ExposureS (PEBBLES)

Funding: 2023 Perinatal Research Imaging and Evaluation (PRIME) Centre Research Award

Principal Investigator: Charissa Patricelli

Co-Investigators: Tim Oberlander, Amanda Easton, Robert Rohling, Kenneth I. Lim, Jeff Bone, Wendy Robinson

PRIME Equipment Used: GE Voluson E10 BT 21

Recruitment Target: 14 participants

Canada continues to face a growing opioid epidemic, and women and birthing persons are able to access opioid agonist therapy (OAT), such as methadone, buprenorphine, and slow-release oral morphine at higher rates. The goal of this pilot feasibility study is to gather preliminary data to learn more about opioid agonist therapy (OAT) and pregnancy, including a pregnant person’s placenta and baby.

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Stillbirth Risk Identification Using Multiparametric Ultrasound (STIMULUS)

Funding: STIMULUS is one of a team of global performers who were selected for the Welcome Leap In Utero Program

Principal Investigator: Robert Rohling

Co-Investigators: Farah Deeba, Chantal Mayer, Jefferson Terry, Jennifer Hutcheon, Denise Pugash

PRIME Equipment Used: GE Voluson E10 BT 21

Recruitment Target: 440 participants

Every year, approximately two million babies die in utero. Stillbirths have long-lasting personal and psychological consequences for parents, as well as substantial costs for wider society. Many of these deaths (between 25% and 60%) are classified as unexplained.

STIMULUS aims to reduce stillbirth rates by capturing more detailed ultrasound information from the mother, fetus, and placenta. Researchers will use this information to better understand the quality of fetal and placental tissue and differentiate between healthy pregnancies and pregnancies that may have underlying complications, including stillbirth.

All participants are recruited through the South Community Birth Program and clinics at BC Women’s Hospital. Participants are asked to complete a maximum of three ultrasounds throughout their pregnancy. All ultrasounds take place at the PRIME Centre.

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Completed

Pilot Project to assess the reliability of transabdominal cervical length measurement to screen for short cervix in a Canadian Cohort

Funding: BCCHR Catalyst Grant

Principal Investigator: Christina Nowik

Co-Investigators: Amanda Easton, Chantal Mayer, Kenneth I. Lim, Jennifer Hutcheon

PRIME Equipment Used:

• GE Voluson E10 BT 16
• Intelligent Ultrasound ScanTrainer

Recruitment Target: 180 participants (for the second phase of study)

This study comprises of two phases. PRIME Centre was used to complete the first quality assurance phase to ensure inter-rater reliability of cervical assessment.

This study aims to assess the potential to use transabdominal ultrasound to provide standardized, universal cervical length screening. To achieve this, transabdominal cervical length measurement is compared with gold standard endovaginal ultrasound measurement in high-risk patients already booked for endovaginal cervical length assessment. If transabdominal ultrasound demonstrates reasonable sensitivity for short cervix, as assessed by endovaginal ultrasound, the research team can pursue a larger study to establish universal cervical length screening with transabdominal ultrasound, which is more accessible and cost-effective.

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