(Chicago, IL, February 11, 2008)  – The March of Dimes Foundation awarded $3.5 million to10 scientists who are trying to stem the growing pace of preterm birth by studying the role genes and heredity play in premature births and how the rate of fetal lung development, infection, and other factors may trigger labor. One of the grants was awarded to Dr. Hui-Ju Tsai, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Smith Child Health Research Program at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
Dr. Tsai is seeking to explain ethnic disparities in preterm birth rates by looking for genetic differences between African-American women who gave birth preterm and those who did not. 

More than a half million babies – one out of every eight – are born too soon each year and the numbers have risen steadily, and for African-American women, the rate is one out of every six. 
“Illinois is among the leaders in tackling this threat to infant health,” said Janine Lewis, Illinois Chapter Program Services Chair, “Most of the causes of preterm birth remain unknown, so there is an urgent purpose for this research and we continue to work toward a future when every baby is born healthy.”

In addition to the awards granted through the National Office, the local Illinois Chapter of the March of Dimes has awarded the following 10 grants totaling $197,470 for 2008:

1. Ambulatory & Community Health Network of the Cook County Bureau of Health Services awarded a $17,000 grant for Centering Pregnancy: Improving Pregnancy Outcomes Through Group Care;
2. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago awarded a $15,000 grant for the Maternal Wellness Project – Little Village;
3. Centro Comunitario Juan Diego of Chicago awarded a $30,000 grant for the Community Health Promoter Program in South Chicago;
4. Children’s Hospital of Illinois, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Peoria awarded a $18,470 grant for the Parents’ Pathfinder Project;
5. Family Focus, Inc., of Evanston awarded a $30,000 grant for Pregnant & Parenting Teens Doula Services;
6. Kane County Health Department of Aurora awarded a $25,000 grant for Circles of Wise Women: Reducing African American Disparities in Maternal Child Health Access to Care;
7. Springfield Perinatal Center, St. John’s Children’s Hospital of Springfield awarded a $15,000 grant for the NICU Development Continuity Follow-Up Clinic;
8. Teen Parent Connection of Glen Ellyn awarded a $7,000 grant for Hispanic Adolescent Mothers: Prenatal Care Thru Doula Services;
9. Wabash County Health Department of Mt. Carmel awarded a $25,000 grant for the Prenatal Substance Use Prevention Project;
10. Whiteside County Health Department of Rock Falls awarded a $15,000 grant for the Whiteside County Prenatal & Parenting Class.

Since 2005, the March of Dimes has committed more than $11 million to its four-year-old Prematurity Research Initiative grant program.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health.  With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies.  For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.