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Winner: Advancement in Health Care
Roberto Romero, M.D.
Chief of perinatology research branch
National Institutes of Health
Professor of molecular obstetrics and genetics
Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University
Detroit
Inflammation is a major risk factor for preterm birth and the leading cause of infant deaths worldwide. One of every three preterm births is associated with infection or inflammation.
Yet, many studies have shown that treating bacterial infections in pregnant women doesn't affect preterm labor or outcome.
A team led by Dr. Roberto Romero, chief of the National Institutes of Health's perinatology research branch at Detroit's Hutzel Hospital, made a major discovery during research from 2002 to 2010 that may dramatically reduce infant deaths during preterm birth.
Romero's team--the branch employs about 100 scientists, doctors nurses and...