Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program - Research
Fellows are encouraged to pursue their research interests in basic science, clinical and translational research. It is the goal that each fellow will have at least one presentation a year at a regional or national meeting during their fellowship.

We have a track record for an active and productive division. Fellows are encouraged to pursue their research interests in basic science, clinical and translational research. It is the goal that each fellow will have at least one presentation a year at a regional or national meeting during their fellowship.

Our fellows have presented oral and poster presentations at annual scientific meetings for numerous regional and national/international societies, including the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), Society of Reproductive Investigation (SRI), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), International Society of Prenatal Diagnosis (ISPD), New England Perinatal Society (NEPS), and Society of Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP).
Research mentors

Fellows have research mentors in the division, as well as additional staff and resources available through the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Tufts Medical Center. Each fellow spends at least 12 months doing research. The research effort culminates in a thesis that is presented to the faculty. There are multiple avenues for fellows to pursue their research interests. Dr. Sabrina Craigo is the Clinical Research mentor and Dr. Michael House is the Basic Research mentor. Areas of clinical and research excellence within the division include, but are not limited to: detection of fetal anomalies by sonography, cervical insufficiency, diabetes, cost effectiveness, implementation science, and the role of structural racism and disparities on adverse perinatal outcomes. Fellows are encouraged to pursue their unique research interests, and collaboration with other departments is welcomed.
Woman, Mother and Baby Research Institute

The Woman, Mother + Baby Research Institute (WOMB) at Tufts Medical Center is a multidisciplinary basic science/translational research institute, with investigators from MFM, Newborn Medicine and Gynecology. WOMB investigators have been awarded multiple NIH grants and have successfully mentored MFM fellows through their thesis projects. Perrie O’Tierney-Ginn, PhD, currently serves as Executive Director of the Women, Mother + Baby Research Institute.
Clinical trials

In addition to MIRI, the Departments of OB/GYN has established a Clinical Trials Research Team which primarily supports industry-sponsored clinical trials. The team is also involved in running investigator-initiated trials, federally-funded studies, and provide support for research projects initiated by residents and fellows. Activities performed by the team include, but are not limited to, screening for eligible study subjects, subject recruitment, sample collection and processing, designing workflow for new trials, collecting and abstracting data, assistance with IRB applications and renewals, help with protocol design and writing, and preparing for federal and sponsor audits.

Each fellow is required to attend a statistics/clinical study design course.

Fellows who are especially interested in cultivating their skills in clinical research and study design can take additional graduate courses at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences during their research/elective months.