In 2005, the foundation awarded the first of its new national Prematurity Research Initiative (PRI) grants to learn more about the causes of prematurity. The selected projects target some of the most crucial questions in prematurity research. The six March of Dimes PRI grantees for 2005 were:

• Sarah K. England, PhD, associate professor of physiology and biophysics at the University of Iowa College of Medicine. Dr. England is investigating cellular mechanisms that help control the muscles of the uterus. The goal is to eventually devise a treatment to stop or prevent preterm labor.
• Louis J. Muglia, MD, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics and obstetrics-gynecology at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Muglia is working to identify genes that play key roles in the timing of both full-term and preterm labor and delivery. He is applying genome-wide search technology in his research, which may lead to new therapies for prevention.
• Jerome F. Strauss, III, MD, PhD professor of obstetrics-gynecology and director of the University of Pennsylvania Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health. To help develop interventions, Dr. Strauss is identifying genetic variations among African-American women that may play a role in their much higher rate of preterm delivery.
• Carole R. Mendelson, PhD, professor of biochemistry and obstetrics-gynecology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. Mendelson is studying the role of fetal lung surfactant as a potential trigger for preterm labor.
• Mala Mahendroo, PhD, assistant professor of obstetrics-gynecology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. Mahendroo is studying a genetic mutation that appears to prevent cervical changes and the onset of labor.
• Stephen J. Lye, PhD, professor of physiology and obstetrics-gynecology and vice-president of research at Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto. Through the study of maternal white blood cells, Dr Lye is working to identify patterns in gene expression that may predict whether preterm labor will result in preterm delivery. His research may lead to improved interventions and management of preterm labor.

February 2006