PCN-CRP: a programme for improving the prediction and prevention of preterm birth and women’s experience of care

ISRCTN ISRCTN21809678
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN21809678
IRAS number 344400
Secondary identifying numbers CPMS 65239
Submission date
18/09/2025
Registration date
19/09/2025
Last edited
19/09/2025
Recruitment status
Recruiting
Overall study status
Ongoing
Condition category
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal death and morbidity worldwide. This has significant repercussions for individuals and their families and the economic costs to society are considerable. The Preterm Clinical Network Cohort Research Programme (PCN-CRP) is a series of studies aiming to reduce preterm birth and the problems it can cause. These studies will investigate tests to predict preterm birth, treatments to prevent it, and how to improve outcomes for babies and women’s experience of care.

Who can participate?
Pregnant women aged 16 years or above who are at risk of preterm birth, either because they have known risk factors, e.g. have had an early baby before, or those who are experiencing symptoms of threatened preterm labour.

What does the study involve?
Participants will be asked to agree to information being collected from their maternity record. This will include information about the participant (e.g. age, ethnicity), any previous pregnancies or medical conditions, the care received in this pregnancy and the pregnancy outcomes, e.g. whether or not she has her baby early.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Taking part in this programme is unlikely to have direct benefit for the participant or her current pregnancy. What we learn, however, might help us to improve care for her in any future pregnancies as well as for other women, and reduce the number of babies being born too early. The participant’s care will not be affected by taking part and no treatments are being tested so there are no risks or disadvantages, other than the time required to read the information sheet/s and sign the consent form/s.

Where is the study run from?
King’s College London and Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
April 2024 to March 2028

Who is funding the study?
Tommy’s (the pregnancy and baby charity) (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Jenny Carter, jenny.carter@kcl.ac.uk

Study website

Contact information

Dr Jenny Carter
Public, Scientific

Department of Women and Children's Health
10th Floor, North Wing
St Thomas' Hospital
Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7EH
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0003-2550-6465
Phone +44 (0)2071887188
Email jenny.carter@kcl.ac.uk
Prof Andrew Shennan
Principal Investigator

Department of Women and Children's Health
10th Floor, North Wing
St Thomas' Hospital
Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7EH
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0001-5273-3132
Phone +44 (0)2071883639
Email andrew.shennan@kcl.ac.uk

Study information

Study designMulti-centre prospective cohort study
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designCohort study
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typePrevention, Screening, Treatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a participant information sheet
Scientific titlePreterm Clinical Network Cohort Research Programme (PCN-CRP)
Study acronymPCN-CRP
Study objectivesThe Preterm Clinical Network Cohort Research Programme (PCN-CRP) is a series of studies aiming to reduce preterm birth and the problems it can cause. These studies will investigate tests to predict preterm birth, treatments to prevent it, and how to improve outcomes for babies and women’s experience of care. The programme will be carried out in partnership with Tommy’s National Centre for Preterm Birth Research and the UK Preterm Clinical Network (UKPCN). This is a network of doctors, midwives and scientists who are working together to prevent the problems associated with preterm birth.

Women at risk of preterm birth will be asked to take part in one or more of the programme’s individual studies (sub-studies). Although more sub-studies will be added in the future, the first four will investigate:
1. How urine infection affects the chances of preterm birth
2. Whether different characteristics (e.g. position and measurements) of previous caesarean section scars, seen by ultrasound, can help to predict the chances of preterm birth and which treatments would work best
3. How many women at risk of preterm birth suffer from poor mental health, what additional support they are offered and whether they accept it
4. New factors to include in QUiPP, a preterm birth prediction and decision support tool.
Ethics approval(s)

Approved 17/03/2025, Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee (NHSBT Newcastle Blood Donor Centre, Holland Drive, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4NQ, United Kingdom; +44 (0)207 972 25 04; leedswest.rec@hra.nhs.uk), ref: 25/YH/0008

Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedPrediction and prevention of preterm birth
InterventionProspective collection of clinical data for use in sub-studies aiming to improve prediction and prevention of preterm birth.

Following informed consent, data will be collected by attending clinician or research midwives and will include: participant background: demographic characteristics, risk factors, medical and obstetric history; clinical care: preterm surveillance methods and test results, e.g. infection screening, cervical length scan measurements, predictive biomarker tests, mental wellbeing screening tests, concomitant treatments; pregnancy outcomes. Data will be stored on the PCN Database (https://www.medscinet.net/ukpcn). If the participant consents to possible long-term follow-up of her own health or her child’s health and developmental status as part of future approved research, this could potentially occur at any time in the future, unless she withdraws her consent.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureThe occurrence of mid-trimester pregnancy loss or preterm birth (PTB) before 37 weeks’ gestation
Secondary outcome measuresThe secondary outcomes that relate to all sub-studies are listed below:
1. Preterm birth before 30 and 34 weeks
2. Mid-trimester loss (14-23 weeks)
3. Gestation at birth
4. Onset of labour (e.g. spontaneous, induced, pre-labour CS)
5. Preterm intervention use (e.g. cerclage, progesterone, vaginal pessary)
6. Antenatal corticosteroid use for fetal lung maturation
7. Magnesium sulphate use for fetal neuroprotection
8. In-utero transfer (for neonatal cot availability)
9. Admission to intensive care unit (mother and neonate)
10. Length of hospital stay (mother and neonate)
11. Infection (mother and neonate)
12. Perinatal death (i.e. stillbirth or neonatal death)
13. Maternal death

Sub-study 1: results of asymptomatic urine screening (dipstick or culture) at booking or first appointment when this is carried out in pregnancy; results of any subsequent urine culture for suspicion of urinary tract infection, with symptoms and treatments will be recorded. This could be at any timepoint in the participant’s pregnancy.

Sub-study 2: caesarean section scar characteristics (if seen on transvaginal ultrasound scan) including distance from internal os and dimensions of niche, if observed, will be recorded. This could be at any timepoint in the participant’s pregnancy.

Sub-study 3: mental wellbeing will be measured using the validated instruments PHQ9, GAD7, PROMIS-10, at all preterm clinic appointments. This could be at any timepoint in the participant’s pregnancy.

Sub-study 4: results of any preterm birth prediction test (including, but not restricted to: vaginal swab tests, such as Actim Partus, transvaginal ultrasound for measurement of cervical length, cervical stiffness measured using the Pregnolia device). This could be at any timepoint in the participant’s pregnancy.
Overall study start date29/04/2024
Completion date31/03/2028

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient, Service user
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit0 Years
Upper age limit70 Years
SexFemale
Target number of participants13027
Key inclusion criteriaPregnant women will be eligible for the programme if they:
1. Have risk factors for preterm birth: previous preterm or mid-trimester loss, history of invasive cervical surgery, history of in-labour caesarean section, uterine anomaly, any other factor considered a risk factor for preterm birth by clinical expertise or national guidelines, or
2. Are experiencing symptoms of threatened preterm labour
3. Are eligible for at least one of the sub-studies as defined in protocol appendices 21.1-4
4. Are willing and able to give informed consent
5. Are aged 16 years or above
Key exclusion criteria1. Under 16 years old
2. Unwilling to give informed consent
Date of first enrolment22/09/2025
Date of final enrolment31/03/2028

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • Northern Ireland
  • Scotland
  • United Kingdom
  • Wales

Study participating centres

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
St Thomas' Hospital
Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7EH
United Kingdom
University College Hospital Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing
235 Euston Road
London
NW1 2BU
United Kingdom
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Doncaster Royal Infirmary
Armthorpe Road
Doncaster
DN2 5LT
United Kingdom
Barts Health NHS Trust
The Royal London Hospital
80 Newark Street
London
E1 2ES
United Kingdom
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
Trust Headquarters
Marlborough Street
Bristol
BS1 3NU
United Kingdom
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Walsgrave General Hospital
Clifford Bridge Road
Coventry
CV2 2DX
United Kingdom
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Management Offices
Poole Hospital
Longfleet Road
Poole
BH15 2JB
United Kingdom
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Free Hospital
Pond Street
London
NW3 2QG
United Kingdom
Manchester University Hospital NHS Ft (hq)
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9WL
United Kingdom
Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
Tonna Hospital
Tonna Uchaf
Tonna
Neath
SA11 3LX
United Kingdom
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Chelsea & Westminster Hospital
369 Fulham Road
London
SW10 9NH
United Kingdom
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
The Royal Bolton Hospital
Minerva Road
Farnworth
Bolton
BL4 0JR
United Kingdom
Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust
Steelhouse Lane
Birmingham
B4 6NH
United Kingdom
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
St. James's University Hospital
Beckett Street
Leeds
LS9 7TF
United Kingdom
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Trust Headquarters
A Floor - Belfast City Hospital
Lisburn Road
Belfast
BT9 7AB
United Kingdom
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust Hq
St. Annes House
729 the Ridge
St. Leonards-on-sea
TN37 7PT
United Kingdom
Fife
Victoria Hospital
Hayfield Road
Kirkcaldy
KY2 5AH
United Kingdom
Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust
Liverpool Womens Hospital
Crown Street
Liverpool
L8 7SS
United Kingdom
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Countess of Chester Health Park
Liverpool Road
Chester
CH2 1UL
United Kingdom
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
Salford Royal
Stott Lane
Salford
M6 8HD
United Kingdom
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Kent & Canterbury Hospital
Ethelbert Road
Canterbury
CT1 3NG
United Kingdom
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Hull Royal Infirmary
Anlaby Road
Hull
HU3 2JZ
United Kingdom
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Mindelsohn Way
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2GW
United Kingdom
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Trust Management
Lydeard House
Musgrove Park Hospital
Taunton
TA1 5DA
United Kingdom
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
United Kingdom
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Lowestoft Road
Gorleston
Great Yarmouth
NR31 6LA
United Kingdom
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
York Hospital
Wigginton Road
York
YO31 8HE
United Kingdom
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
University Hospital Lewisham
Lewisham High Street
London
SE13 6LH
United Kingdom
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Pillars Building
Cumberland Infirmary
Infirmary Street
Carlisle
CA2 7HY
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Tommy's

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/03/2029
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planFindings will be shared through medical literature, as well as the wider media and PPI social networks, and ultimately will inform further research and national clinical guidelines.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be available upon request.

Where participants have explicitly consented to their data being shared for future research purposes, anonymised data may be shared with third party researchers subject to review and approval of the Preterm Clinical Network (PCN) Database Access Committee. This committee comprises clinical preterm birth expert members of the UK Preterm Clinical Network and a patient representative with lived experience. The committee is governed by procedures stipulated in the PCN Database protocol and approved by Research Ethics Committee (REC 22/ES/0001; IRAS 308157). These include submission of detailed application form by third party researchers and committee review of research team and project. If approved, anonymised data is transferred by secure means following execution of data sharing agreements between parties (i.e. KCL, researcher institution and contributing Data Collection Centres).

Editorial Notes

19/09/2025: Internal review.
18/09/2025: Study's existence confirmed by the Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee.