Women's Health Research Preterm Labor

Discovering the future of women’s health care

Women’s Health Research

Preterm labor (PTL) is a syndrome that results in the spontaneous start of labor 37 weeks or less into a woman's pregnancy (more than 3 weeks before her due date). As with normal labor, PTL is characterized by uterine contractions and dilation of the cervix. If allowed to progress, it moves the fetus into the birth canal, and the amniotic sac is more likely to break. Unlike normal labor, PTL's early activation of the mechanisms of labor is the result of a number of abnormalities and diseases.

• 1 in 8 babies is born a month or more too early
• PTL results in health care costs upwards of $30 billion
• Prematurity is the leading cause of newborn death
• There are currently no FDA approved drugs to treat preterm labor

Juneau Biosciences’ research is designed to identify the genes that increase the likelihood of preterm labor. This gene discovery will be the basis of tests and therapies that will not only treat but will also prevent preterm labor.

For more details on our current preterm labor research, or to find out how you can participate in our study, please click here.

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.”

- Mahatma Ghandi