Skip to main content

Our Focus Areas for Strategic Research

Our Strategic Research maintains a deep focus on improving outcomes in time-critical moments across childbirth, neonatal care, and emergency response.

With over 200 co-authored research papers and supporting 34 PhD projects, our team develops:

  • New, lifesaving concepts.
  • New knowledge.
  • Growth of relationships with key opinion leaders.
  1. Respectful maternal care and WHO Labour Care Guide
    A positive birth experience stimulates release of natural oxytocin, leading to stronger uterine contractions which promotes natural birth and reduces the need for interventions. The WHO Labour Care Guide (LCG) promotes a more patient-centered approach emphasizing support and communication during childbirth. Implementation studies have reported less use of oxytocin augmentation, fewer cesarean sections (c-sections), less bleeding, less infection and improved neonatal outcomes when LCG is used.
  2. Shorten time from decision to delivery when 2nd stage intervention is indicated
    Indications include maternal exhaustion, prolonged labour and fetal distress. Newborn mortality at 24h and 7 days is highly associated with abnormal or not detected fetal heart rate. >1 h duration of 2nd stage of labour has 3x higher risk of adverse outcome. >1 h duration of 2nd stage with abnormal FHR has 6x higher risk of adverse outcome. Shorten Decision to Delivery to < 1 h can save 8 newborn lives per 1,000 births.
  3. Reducing unnecessary C-sections to prevent maternal mortality due to bleeding and infections
    Increasing the use of vacuum assisted birth to 5% with similar reduction in cesarean section will reduce maternal mortality by 46 per 100,000 births. Secondary benefits are less complication in later pregnancies, less use of hospital resources, and less costly for the mother and family.
  4. Immediate KMC and supporting birth transition with an intact cord
    Intact cord stabilization, delayed cord clamping, and immediate Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) offer significant, complementary benefits for both mother and newborn by supporting the natural transition to extrauterine life and promoting bonding. Immediate KMC can save 3-4 lives per 1,000 births.
  5. Ensuring >80% oxygen saturation at 5 min of life to reduce mortality from preterm birth
    Mortality is 3x higher when oxygenation targets are not met. New knowledge about oxygenation need is emerging among term population with fluid- filled lungs and term babies stabilized with an intact cord.
  6. Improving team performance and safety around birth
    Compensation claims for injury at birth was 119 MNOK in Norway in 2024. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), birth injuries occur in about 7 of every 1,000 babies born in the United States, with compensation claims averaging USD 1M per case.
  7. Reducing time from unconsciousness to calling for help (OHCA)
    Calling 1 minute earlier saves 10 lives per million population
  8. Providing early first aid advice and timely access to healthcare when calling for help
    Prehospital tourniquet saves 8 lives per million population. Antibiotics within 3 h reduce mortality from sepsis by 13 per million population. 13 min earlier thrombolysis saves 15 lives per million population from stroke. Telephone CPR instruction for suspected OHCA saves 25 lives per million population.
Interested in working together? Contact us ->