Current and past projects
In addition to the information UKTIS collects from telephone enquiries to facilitate surveillance, UKTIS also conducts and participates in specific research projects.
If you would like to know more about the research we carry out at UKTIS or are interested in collaboration, please email us at nuth.contactUKTIS@nhs.net.
Current research
UKTIS is currently involved in:
ConcePTION
In April 2019, a landmark public-private partnership called ConcePTION was awarded a five-year grant by the Innovative Medicines Initiative. The aim was to tackle many of the research gaps related to medicine use by pregnant women. The project unites 88 organisations from 22 different countries and aims to build a pan-European ecosystem for generating, monitoring and providing robust information on the safety of medicines in pregnancy and breastfeeding. UKTIS is a consortium partner in the project and participates in numerous different work packages and sub-tasks.
To find out more about the ConcePTION project please click here to visit the website.
International ‘TIS’ studies
We have ongoing collaboration with teratology information services (‘TIS’) around the world to study the effects of numerous drugs used in pregnancy. The analysis and publication of UKTIS surveillance data remains an essential function of the service.
Past research
PhD thesis – Data Collection and Analysis Techniques Employed in Teratogen Surveillance Research; an exploration, trial and appraisal of the methods available to the UK Teratology Information Service
When providing advice to health care professionals about the risks which may be associated with maternal environmental exposures during pregnancy, published safety data are often lacking.
This PhD research investigated the feasibility of employing new human teratogen surveillance techniques at the UK Teratology Information Service to improve data availability and provide women and healthcare professionals with more reliable clinical teratology information.
The research focussed on providing an appraisal of current teratology information service (TIS) based methods of teratogen surveillance, and investigating self-reporting of teratogen surveillance data by pregnant women.
Pharmacoepidemiological Research on Outcomes of Therapeutics (PROTECT)
This project is now complete.
UKTIS with Newcastle University collaborated in a European multi centre research project with 31 public and private partners. The project, Pharmacoepidemiological Research on Outcomes of Therapeutics (PROTECT) was funded by IMI to address limitations of current methods in the field of pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacovigilance.
PROTECT trialled direct patient data collection using web-based and telephone systems. It tested the transferability of the data into a common language and explored linkages to data from electronic health records and registries.
Find out more about the results of the project here – PROTECT | IMI Innovative Medicines Initiative (europa.eu)
Schmallenberg virus (SBV)
This project is now closed.
In autumn 2011, maternal infection amongst pregnant cattle and sheep with the novel Schmallenberg virus (SBV) resulted in increased rates of stillbirth and congenital malformations including arthrogryposis in lambs and calves. Experience from similar viruses suggested that the risk of human disease was low, but it could not be excluded. UKTIS was tasked with coordinating surveillance for any early signals of a teratogenic effect from SBV infection in humans. A two-pronged approach was adopted, with ‘astute clinicians’ in the UK and worldwide being approached through links with established paediatric pathology, neuromuscular paediatric and genetics networks to report unusual or unexplained cases or clusters of arthrogryposis to UKTIS. In addition, collaboration with UK congenital malformation registries was formalised to provide a review of arthrogryposis rates for previous years, with a view to registries analysing arthrogryposis and related malformation rates prospectively over five years on a quarterly basis.
As of April 2013, no cases of suspected SBV teratogenesis in humans had been reported to UKTIS. Baseline analysis of annual arthrogryposis and associated congenital anomaly rates before and after 2011 has been undertaken by congenital anomaly registries across the UK.
Epigenetic signatures in fetal development
This project is now complete
During 2010/2011 UKTIS with Newcastle University initiated and led on a collaborative project to improve understanding of the molecular mechanisms that orchestrate gene expression during fetal development. This work aimed to identify epigenomic signatures during development and then to further interrogate these signatures in relation to exposures known to influence pregnancy outcomes (e.g. potential teratogens, maternal obesity). The ultimate goals were twofold; To define epigenetic signatures that may have clinical utility as early biomarkers of exposure and thus assist in more accurate and specific risk prediction and counselling. To increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms occurring in fetal development and thus the pathogenesis of health problems later in the lifecourse that have antecedents in utero, therefore informing appropriate interventions.
An NIHR FSF grant and Newcastle Healthcare Charity award was secured to fund the pilot work necessary to establish reference epigenetic signatures. This work generated preliminary data that will underpin further funding applications and collaborations.
Swine Flu
This project is now complete.
UKTIS research activity for 2009/2010 was dominated by the ‘Swine Flu In Pregnancy Study’. This project, a collaborative venture with the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) was initially commissioned for six months by the NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) as high priority expedited research to collect prospective observational data on pregnant women exposed to swine flu and/ or antiviral medication, managed both in primary (UKTIS) and secondary (UKOSS) care. Monthly review of emerging data from this study was provided to the NIHR to inform guidance on the management of AH1N1v infection in pregnancy during the 2009 pandemic such that outcomes for women and infants were optimised during this period.
Read the full report here.
Read about the results here:
Pregnancy outcome following maternal use of zanamivir or oseltamivir during the 2009 influenza A/H1N1 pandemic: a national prospective surveillance study – Dunstan – 2014 – BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology – Wiley Online Library
H1N1v Influenza in Pregnancy
This project is now complete.
Funding was provided to the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NUTH) by the swine flu vaccine manufacturers, GSK and Baxter, to include women offered swine flu vaccination in pregnancy in the UKTIS arm of the study.
It is recognised globally that there is a pressing need for good data on maternal and longer term fetal outcomes following influenza, antiviral or vaccine exposure in pregnancy, not only in view of the likelihood that AH1N1 may remain the dominant circulating influenza strain, but also given the likelihood of other, potentially more virulent influenza outbreaks in the future.
H1N1v Vaccination in Pregnancy
This project is now complete.
Funding was provided ty the swine flu vaccine manufacturers, GSK and Baxter, to analyse pregnancy outcomes of women vaccinated against swine flu in pregnancy.