The Mystery of Premature Birth
Finding answers to the problem of premature birth is one of the most urgent challenges confronting medicine today. Premature birth is the leading killer of newborns and a major cause of lasting disabilities such as:
- Blindness
- Cerebral palsy
- Mental retardation
- Chronic lung disease
- Learning difficulties
Moreover, rates of prematurity have increased by 35 percent since 1981. More than half a million babies are born prematurely in the United States each year. In about four out of every 10 cases, the causes are unknown.
But, in these early years of the 21st century, we find ourselves facing enormous potential for progress. Technological innovation has made possible the sequencing of the entire human genome, which will undoubtedly hasten the pace of discovery and application of new knowledge. It is with confidence, then, that we move ahead to unravel the mysteries of premature birth and to find the answers that will save babies' lives.
Funding research is critical to the fight against prematurity. If the causes of premature birth can be better understood, then new ways to prevent it can be developed. A significant portion of our research portfolio addresses prematurity. The foundation has also created a new research program, the Prematurity Research Initiative (PRI), targeted at prematurity prevention. In addition, the March of Dimes sponsored The Preemie Act, a national law that authorizes increased federal support for research and education on prematurity.
With help from people like you, we can fund more research. Help us gain more knowledge before we lose more babies. To learn how you can help, visit Take Action.
|
