National key research and development program unveiled for reproductive and women's and children's health protection

The launch ceremony of the Reproductive and Women and Children’s Health Protection, a national key research and development program, took place at Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital on March 30.

The program features three special projects. Professor Gao Shaorong from the hospital led a project for "Molecular Mechanisms Governing Cell Fate and Lineage Differentiation by Epigenetic Regulation Network Before Mammalian Embryo Implantation." 

Professor Ying Hao headed the project of "Precise Clinical Comprehensive Prevention and Control Strategies Based on the Mechanism of Premature Birth," while Professor Sun Luming led the project "Comprehensive Research on Establishing China's Fetal Growth Curves and Intervention System for Fetal Growth Restriction."

The key special projects primarily focus on pressing issues such as reproductive disorders, birth defects, women's health problems and children's health. 

The program aims to deepen understanding of the reproductive process, shift the focus towards reproductive health maintenance and women and children's health at an earlier stage, enhance precision in disease prevention and treatment, develop key technologies and products and establish a national-level fertility assessment and monitoring system. 

Additionally, it aims to create a birth defect early warning and screening system, achieve intelligent, standardized and homogenized women and children's health monitoring and key disease diagnosis and treatment, as well as promote the implementation of reproductive health maintenance and health protection projects.

Wang Yu, president of the hospital, said through these three projects, the hospital will elevate its medical, educational, research and management to a new level, establishing a health "great harbor" that provides high-quality medical services for women throughout their entire lifecycle.