Oluwasolape Olawore
Evaluating the Long-Term Developmental Safety of Antenatal Corticosteroids for Preterm Birth
Summary
Antenatal corticosteroids are an important treatment given to pregnant people at imminent risk of preterm birth to accelerate the baby’s lung development. Yet there are concerns about how exposure may affect the child’s long-term brain development. Results from clinical trials and real-world studies are conflicting, likely because of differences in study populations and systematic errors that can skew findings. My research uses machine learning to identify pregnant people who are at high risk of preterm delivery by analyzing routinely collected clinical and demographic data. I will examine electronic medical records to understand how receiving antenatal corticosteroids influences children’s long-term brain development, comparing those who did and did not receive the treatment. By using innovative methods to answer this safety question, my project will supply clear evidence to guide decisions on when and for whom antenatal corticosteroids offer the greatest benefit, helping doctors tailor care and improve outcomes for vulnerable infants.
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I am honored to receive the PhRMA Foundation award, which provides essential support for my dissertation research. This fellowship enables me to advance my research on the safe and effective use of critical therapeutics in pregnancy, helping to improve health outcomes for mothers and newborns.
