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Aim Project.Ong

Accelerating Innovation for Mothers (AIM) 2.0

Open to students

Globally, approximately 287,000 women die every year from pregnancy-related conditions and complications, with most of these deaths occurring in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Although investment in global maternal health has increased in the past 30 years, research and development (R&D) of new products has been a neglected area.

Objective

Our objective is to define and implement the pathways for accelerating development and introduction of innovative products for pregnancy-specific conditions through global partnerships.

Timeline

2022–2025.

Approach

The Accelerating Innovation for Mothers (AIM) project is a collaborative partnership between Burnet Institute, Concept Foundation and Policy Cures Research. It was initiated to catalyse the development of new medicines for obstetric conditions.

In the first phase of the AIM project (AIM 1.0) we investigated the current landscape and challenges for pregnancy-specific medicine development, conducted a comprehensive maternal medicines pipeline analysis, and developed four new target product profiles for new medicines to prevent and treat preeclampsia and preterm birth/labour.

Two research papers released in 2022 describe the development of the first ever target product profiles for maternal medicines, for preterm birth/labour and pre-eclampsia. An additional three research papers released in 2022 describe the landscape of medicines development over the last 20 years, for pre-eclampsia, postpartum haemorrhage and fetal growth restriction.

In AIM 2.0 we will expand our previous work to include diagnostic tests and devices, and medicines for additional maternal conditions. Burnet Institute will lead two primary objectives that will help us to achieve our goal within the timeframe of the project.

Objective 1

Improve coordination and foster an enabling environment is built on the understanding that collaboration among different stakeholders is optimal to ensure long- awaited innovations for pregnant women are realised. We will consolidate a transparent and efficient research collaboration network. This will foster an enabling environment through which new findings and innovations can be disseminated to peers in the maternal health field and to the public. Through this network, we will con1nue to raise awareness of the need for, inspire, and guide new innova1ons for maternal and pregnancy related problems and other topics related to our work. An additional component of this collaborative network will be to establish and strengthen the capacity of an LMIC-based research network to conduct regulatory trials.

Objective 2

Research prioritization to action will streamline and accelerate the identification of highest priority candidates and ensure that necessary clinical research ac1vi1es can commence promptly. An updated, integrated database of pipeline candidates will be maintained and expanded to include new conditions and products. Systematic and scoping reviews will be conducted on high priority candidates and conditions. New TPPs will be developed for maternal microbiome, and tests for preeclampsia and preterm birth.

By the end of this project, multiple high-priority candidate medicines will be ready for “next- phase” clinical trials consistent with regulatory standards, to be conducted within a newly established LMIC trial network.

Find out more at the AIM website.

Student opportunities

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Developing target product profiles for innovative maternal health products

As part of the Accelerating Innovation for Mothers (AIM) project, the student will play a crucial role in developing and refining target product profiles (TPPs) for new health products aimed at improving maternal health outcomes. 

This opportunity focuses on addressing the urgent need for innovative solutions to reduce maternal mortality and severe morbidity globally. The student will work on various initiatives, including:

  • leading the development of a novel target product profile for a priority maternal health condition, such as postpartum hemorrhage, fetal wellbeing, obstructed labour, or postpartum depression.
  • thoroughly reviewing existing literature to inform the drafting of minimum and optimistic targets for the new product.
  • conducting a consultation process, including interviews and survey, with a range of maternal health expert stakeholders.

This project will provide students with valuable experience in global maternal and perinatal health, evidence synthesis, and stakeholder consultation, along with opportunities for scientific publication.

Partners

Funding partners

Gates Foundation

Collaborators

  • Concept Foundation
  • Policy Cures Research

Project contacts

Professor Joshua Vogel

Professor Joshua Vogel

Co-Program Director, Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health; Co-Head, Global Women’s and Newborn’s Health Group; Senior Principal Research Fellow
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Project team

Phoebe Nguyen

Phoebe Nguyen

Research Assistant
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Professor Joshua Vogel

Professor Joshua Vogel

Co-Program Director, Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health; Co-Head, Global Women’s and Newborn’s Health Group; Senior Principal Research Fellow
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Dr Annie McDougall

Dr Annie McDougall

Senior Research Fellow and Team Leader - Medicines in Pregnancy Research
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Kate Mills

Kate Mills

Research Officer
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Dr Maureen Makama

Dr Maureen Makama

Research Officer
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Jenny Cao

Jenny Cao

International Health Project Officer
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