Historically, clinical investigations into stillbirth have received less attention than other obstetric complications. Therefore, a collaborative steering group refreshed the UK stillbirth research priorities to guide future scientific endeavors. This vital project updated the original 2015 priority list in accordance with the James Lind Alliance guidelines. Ultimately, the researchers aimed to align global funding with the most critical clinical uncertainties.

Promoting Global Stillbirth Research Priorities

Historically, researchers have neglected late-stage pregnancy loss in clinical funding cycles. However, this collaborative refresh provides a clear roadmap to address the most urgent knowledge gaps. Specifically, the updated list highlights crucial areas such as prediction, prevention, and effective management. Consequently, funding agencies can now direct resources toward trials that offer the highest clinical impact. Additionally, this patient-centered approach ensures that the lived experiences of families directly shape future scientific goals.

A Transparent Methodology to Identify Knowledge Gaps

To establish these priorities, the steering group first launched an extensive public survey. Subsequently, professionals and affected families submitted over 1,200 research questions regarding perinatal death. Furthermore, the team gathered another 24 questions directly from established clinical practice guidelines. To ensure scientific novelty, information specialists then conducted thorough literature searches across major databases. Indeed, these searches revealed that previously published work had already answered 10 of the submitted questions. Therefore, the group carried the remaining 79 unanswered questions forward into a final prioritization round.

Consensus-Driven Research Priorities

During the second phase, over 400 participants ranked the remaining uncertainties online. Afterwards, the committee brought the top 26 questions to a face-to-face workshop. At this workshop, clinicians and parents worked together to select the final 12 priorities through consensus. Consequently, this collaborative effort successfully bridged the gap between clinical reality and patient needs. Ultimately, these 12 questions now represent the gold standard for stillbirth-related research design.

Clinical Relevance for Healthcare Professionals in India

Although this study took place in the United Kingdom, its findings carry profound relevance for India. For instance, India still faces a heavy burden of late-pregnancy loss and stillbirth. Therefore, Indian obstetricians can use these 12 prioritized questions to design high-impact local studies. Furthermore, adopting this structured framework helps resource-limited settings optimize their clinical research budgets. Ultimately, focusing on these universal questions will improve prenatal care and save newborn lives globally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why did the Stillbirth Priority Setting Partnership refresh the original 2015 priorities?

The steering group updated the priorities because clinical landscapes and research progress change over time. Specifically, researchers have successfully answered several questions from the 2015 list, requiring a modern reassessment of current knowledge gaps.

Q2: How many final priority research questions did the partnership identify?

Ultimately, the partnership agreed on 12 final prioritized research questions. These focus on the prediction, prevention, clinical causes, and management of stillbirth.

Q3: How do these research priorities benefit clinicians and patients outside the UK?

These priorities provide a standardized, patient-centered framework that clinicians worldwide, including in India, can adopt. Consequently, researchers can focus global resources on answering the most critical questions to prevent prenatal loss.

References

Heazell AEP et al. Updating unanswered questions for stillbirth research: refresh of the UK Stillbirth Priority Setting Partnership. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2026 Jun 21. doi: 10.1002/uog.70261. PMID: 42323800.
Tommy’s. Bereaved families shape the future of stillbirth research in Tommy’s priority-setting project. 2026 Jan 22.
James Lind Alliance. Stillbirth Refresh | NIHR JLA. 2026 May 22.