The perinatal period and early childhood represent critical windows of development, where interventions have lifelong consequences. Despite significant strides in basic science, a persistent gap remains in translating mechanistic discoveries into tangible clinical benefits for mothers and children. For instance, while molecular pathways of preterm birth are increasingly elucidated, effective preventive strategies and targeted therapies are still limited. This disconnect is particularly evident in complex conditions like preterm birth, preeclampsia, where animal models often fail to recapitulate human disease fully,. Concurrently, rich clinical data from neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and pediatric clinics are underutilized for generating new research hypotheses. The current challenge, therefore, is not merely a scarcity of knowledge but a fragmentation of effort. Bridging these domains requires a deliberate, bidirectional approach: leveraging basic research to define novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers, while simultaneously using real-world clinical observations to inform more relevant and predictive experimental models. This integration is essential for moving beyond generalized care towards precise, individualized interventions that improve long-term outcomes.

Goal

This Research Topic aims to bridge the critical translational gap between fundamental discovery and patient application in perinatal and pediatric medicine. We seek to curate a collection of research that exemplifies true bidirectional support: where basic mechanistic insights directly inform the development of novel diagnostics, therapeutics, and preventive strategies, and where pressing clinical observations are used to refine foundational research questions. We specifically encourage contributions that utilize innovative model systems, leverage clinical data for hypothesis generation, and present basic and clinically relevant studies with clear potential to improve maternal, fetal, neonatal, or child health outcomes. Ultimately, our goal is to foster a integrated dialogue that accelerates the delivery of precision medicine to this vulnerable population.

Scope and information for Authors

● Foundational Discovery: Basic research elucidating molecular, genetic, and physiological mechanisms underlying perinatal and pediatric health and disease, which provide the fundamental substrate for clinical innovation.

● Clinical Research & Phenotyping: Studies focused on deep phenotyping of patient populations, leveraging clinical data, registries, and trials to define unmet needs and generate evidence for new standards of care.

● Bidirectional Translational Studies: Research that demonstrably connects bench and bedside, such as using clinical data to inform animal/model system research or applying mechanistic insights to design targeted clinical trials.

● Enabling Technologies & Resources: Reports on innovative tools that facilitate translation, including development of novel biomarkers, advanced disease models (e.g., organoids), bioinformatics pipelines, and shared biorepositories.

● Implementation & Precision Medicine: Investigations into overcoming barriers to adopting evidence-based practices and deploying personalized interventions in real-world clinical settings.

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Advancing Perinatal and Pediatric Care: Bridging Basic Research and Clinical Practice

Topic Coordinator