Oluwasolape Olawore
Predoctoral Fellowship in Value Assessment and Health Outcomes Research, 2025
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Risk of Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Associated with Receipt of Antenatal Corticosteroid for Preterm Birth
Abstract
Preterm birth poses significant health risks with high morbidity and mortality. Antenatal corticosteroids improve outcomes when administered to those at imminent risk of preterm delivery within 7 days. However, emerging evidence suggests that gestational age at treatment, dosage received, and the interval between treatment and delivery may be associated with adverse neurodevelopmental effects. Identifying individuals at imminent risk is challenging, often relying on subjective judgment or non-standardized measures. A predictive tool could support objective identification of eligible population for treatment and support timely interventions to reduce risks of adverse events if they exist. This project aims to use electronic health data from a university health system to (1) characterize a phenotype for imminent preterm delivery using a dynamic machine learning approach, and (2) assess neurodevelopmental risks associated with antenatal corticosteroids.
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.
