Pregnant women have frequently been excluded from or de-prioritized in clinical research initiatives due to a multitude of factors, such as the complex physiology of pregnant women, the risk studies may pose to the fetus, and the classification of pregnant women as a vulnerable population, among others. This neglect has left pregnant women and their providers to make decisions without adequate information or guidance regarding the safety and efficacy of necessary treatments.
This was a two part webinar series; Part I was held on Wednesday, February 14th, and was intended to broaden and build the capacity of civil society and other partners interested in issues related to pregnant and lactating women and research. Part II was held on Wednesday, March 14th, and focused on more disease-specific efforts to include pregnant women in tuberculosis (TB) and HIV research. Below you’ll find all the materials that were presented and shared during both parts of the webinar.
PART I:
Moderator: Kathryn Schubert, Chief Advocacy Officer, The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM)
Panelists:
- Dr. Maggie Little, Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University
Clinical Research with Pregnant Women: Historic Context & Ethical Considerations - Kate O’Brien, We Are TB/National TB Controllers Association (NTCA)
Being Treated for a Communicable Disease While Pregnant - Sarah Mancoll, MS, Mother of three and advocate
Being Treated for a Non-Communicable Disease While Pregnant - Dr. George Saade, University of Texas, Medical Branch
Operationalizing Inclusion - Gina Brown, MSW, Community Organizer, Southern AIDS Coalition
The Role of Advocacy
–For additional information about the Task Force on Research Specific to Pregnant and Lactating Women (PRGLAC): https://www.nichd.
–For additional information about the Coalition for Advancing Maternal Therapeutics (CAMT): https://www.smfm.org/
Part II:
Moderator: Dr. Jyoti Mathad, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Center for Global Health at Weill Cornell Medical College
- Dr. Lynne M. Mofenson, Senior HIV Technical Advisor, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Historic Perspective on HIV and TB Research in Pregnant Women - Dr. Sharon Nachman, Stony Brook University, Chair, International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Network (IMPAACT)
Ongoing and Planned IMPAACT Studies in Pregnant Women - Dr. Carl W. Dieffenbach, Director, Division of AIDS (DAIDS), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Maternal, Adolescent, and Pediatric HIV/AIDS Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network: Pregnant Women in the NIAID HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Network Re-Competition - Dr. Liz Barr, Women’s HIV Research Collaborative (WHRC) Co-Chair, AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) Community Scientific Subcommittee Co-Chair
The Role Community Advocates Can Play to Advance a More Inclusive Research Agenda - Lindsay McKenna, TB/HIV Senior Project Officer, Treatment Action Group
Opportunities to Advocate for Research in Pregnant and Lactating Women
If you have any questions, please direct them to Lindsay McKenna.