Your Part in Research

Nationwide Children’s is committed to the health of your child and the health of future generations of children to come. That is why we are doing research according to the highest scientific and ethical standards to better understand pre-term birth and how to prevent it.

During your stay at Nationwide Children’s, our research staff may ask you to be a part of clinical research studies. The purpose of  each study will be clearly explained. You will have the chance to ask questions. Participation is completely voluntary. You may also contact us at (614) 355-5724 for more information.

Read more about current perinatal research studies here.

Ohio Perinatal Research Network (OPRN)

The Ohio Perinatal Research Network (OPRN) is a research group made of Nationwide Children’s, The Ohio State University Colleges of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

The mission of OPRN is to improve the lives of children and families in Ohio and beyond by discovering and implementing actions that measurably reduce prematurity-associated morbidity and mortality.

A major effort of OPRN is the Perinatal Research Repository, where clinical data and specimens from infants delivered prematurely and their mothers and/or fathers will be stored. The information gathered will be used in research to prevent, diagnose and treat pre-term birth and its resulting diseases and complications.

Neonatal Research Network

Nationwide Children’s is also a member of the prestigious Neonatal Research Network, established by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) of the National Institutes of Health. Hospitals in this network do clinical studies in neonatal medicine to improve outcomes.