The purpose of this Mid-career Investigator Award in Clinical Research is to provide John Owen, M.D., Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) with sufficient protected time to 1) continue and expand his ongoing clinical research activities including serving as the principal investigator of a funded U01 multicenter randomized trial of cerclage for the prevention of spontaneous preterm birth; 2) enhance his capabilities as a mentor and educator, especially through the completion of an MPH in Clinical Research and receipt of a dual appointment in the Department of Biostatistics at UAB; and 3) continue to identify and train academically focused individuals through research initiatives in the Ob/Gyn residency and particularly through his position as the Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship program director at UAB. The focus of his new skills acquisition will be the completion of an MPH in Clinical Research in a novel post-graduate program recently introduced jointly by the schools of Public Health and Biostatistics. It specifically addresses recent NIH goals to expand the pool of qualified clinical investigators by combining selected aspects of both the Biostatistics and Public Health curricula, offering a broader and more pragmatic educational experience. With this advanced degree, Dr. Owen can be assured of a dual appointment in the School of Biostatistics and will assume a formal, ongoing teaching commitment in this valuable program. Moreover, as the P.I. of a recently funded U01 grant to conduct a multicenter randomized trial of cerclage in high-risk women with shortened mid-trimester cervical length, he will be in a strategic position to launch a similar trial in women with multiple gestation and also to receive funding for the analysis of the biologic fluid bank planned as part of the randomized trial. This will increase our understanding of the mechanisms of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth and also provide the basis for multiple research projects through which Dr. Owen can collaborate with and thereby train other young investigators. In summary, the above-stated initiatives, coupled with his position as the director of both the Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship and the obstetric in-patient research unit at UAB, and secured by the Mid-career Investigator Award, will ensure that his education and experience will be propagated by continuously fostering other research careers.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24)
Project #
5K24HD043314-02
Application #
6711166
Study Section
Pediatrics Subcommittee (CHHD)
Program Officer
Ilekis, John V
Project Start
2003-03-01
Project End
2008-02-29
Budget Start
2004-03-01
Budget End
2005-02-28
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$139,518
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Alabama Birmingham
Department
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
063690705
City
Birmingham
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35294
Szychowski, Jeff M; Berghella, Vincenzo; Owen, John et al. (2012) Cerclage for the prevention of preterm birth in high risk women receiving intramuscular 17-?-hydroxyprogesterone caproate. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 25:2686-9
Berghella, Vincenzo; Szychowski, Jeff M; Owen, John et al. (2012) Suture type and ultrasound-indicated cerclage efficacy. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 25:2287-90
Mancuso, Melissa S; Figueroa, Dana; Szychowski, Jeff M et al. (2011) Midtrimester bacterial vaginosis and cervical length in women at risk for preterm birth. Am J Obstet Gynecol 204:342.e1-5
Owen, John; Szychowski, Jeff M; Hankins, Gary et al. (2010) Does midtrimester cervical length ?25 mm predict preterm birth in high-risk women? Am J Obstet Gynecol 203:393.e1-5
Mancuso, Melissa S; Szychowski, Jeff M; Owen, John et al. (2010) Cervical funneling: effect on gestational length and ultrasound-indicated cerclage in high-risk women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 203:259.e1-5
Mancuso, Melissa S; Owen, John (2009) Prevention of preterm birth based on a short cervix: cerclage. Semin Perinatol 33:325-33
Owen, John; Hankins, Gary; Iams, Jay D et al. (2009) Multicenter randomized trial of cerclage for preterm birth prevention in high-risk women with shortened midtrimester cervical length. Am J Obstet Gynecol 201:375.e1-8
Berghella, Vincenzo; Owen, John; MacPherson, Cora et al. (2007) Natural history of cervical funneling in women at high risk for spontaneous preterm birth. Obstet Gynecol 109:863-9
Nuthalapaty, Francis S; Goepfert, Alice R; Jackson, James R et al. (2005) Do factors that are important during obstetrics and gynecology residency program selection differ by applicant gender? Am J Obstet Gynecol 193:1540-3
Nuthalapaty, Francis S; Ramsey, Patrick S; Biggio, Joseph R et al. (2005) High-dose vaginal misoprostol versus concentrated oxytocin plus low-dose vaginal misoprostol for midtrimester labor induction: a randomized trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol 193:1065-70

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