The Specialty Group has announced the launch of a quarterly webinar series aimed at sharing evidence-based insights, clinical experiences, and innovative research

The initiative is dedicated to advancing understanding and dialogue around reproductive health, pregnancy, and childbirth through a research-focused lens — with speaker contributions now being invited to shape its topics and themes.

The speciality group is welcoming submissions from researchers, clinicians, midwives, students, educators, public health professionals, and more.

Contributions can take the form of, for example, research presentations (published, in progress, closed or proposed research); case studies or audits, (any challenges or best practice shared learnings); practice-based insights or program evaluations; or policy or guideline development perspectives.

The ‘lunch and learn’ sessions will all be hosted live on Microsoft Teams from 12.10-1pm, offering inspiring speakers a platform to share their deep knowledge and insights.

Planned webinar dates are:

• Wednesday 17 September 2025
• Wednesday 19 November 2025
• Wednesday 18 February 2026
• Wednesday 17 June 2026

The series is expected to highlight current evidence, emerging studies, and critical gaps in knowledge across topics such as fertility, maternal and foetal outcomes, respectful maternity care, perinatal mental health, postnatal recovery and much more related to this area of health care.

RHC Champion and Clinical Research Lead, Professor Abha Maheshwari said: “The goal is to bridge clinical research, policy development, and lived experience to foster meaningful discussion and drive improvement in care and outcomes.

“We invite researchers, clinicians, educators, students, and advocates to contribute. Whether you have ongoing research, case studies, insights from practice, or areas in need of inquiry — your voice can help shape these future sessions.”

Abha added: “Together, we hope to develop an engaging series which aligns with our key aim — uniting research and practice to improve reproductive and maternal health for all.”

If you are interested in presenting your work, suggesting topics, or collaborating on future webinars, please contact Champion Support Manager, Annie Ganguly.

Delivering Randomised Controlled Trials in Rare Diseases in Fetal Medicine

The NHS Research Scotland (NRS) Reproductive Health and Childbirth Specialty Group has announced its first quarterly webinar taking place Wednesday 17 September with a leading expert presenting

The ‘lunch and learn’ session will be introduced by the Specialty Group’s Champion Support Manager, Annie Ganguly, chaired by Dr Mairead Black with a presentation by Professor Katie Morris.

Mairead is a researcher and Consultant Obstetrician with an interest in improving the delivery of NHS maternity care, including how informed decisions about birth are supported.

She is  the Chief Investigator of the 'Plan-A study,  Planning mode of birth in routine Antenatal Care.' This work will develop a decision aid to support pregnant women to choose between planning vaginal or caesarean birth during antenatal discussions with health professionals.

Katie is National Reproductive Health and Childbirth Speciality Lead for the Research Delivery Network of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

She is also National Clinical Academic Lead for the NIHR Research Support Service, and Professor of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Health (Honorary Consultant Birmingham Women’s Hospital), Director of Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit, among many other roles.

Entitled ‘Delivering randomised controlled trials in rare diseases in fetal medicine’, the webinar will be hosted live on Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 17 September from 12.10-1pm.

It will place a particular focus on experiences derived from Azalea and Freesia trials of nipocalimab in fetal neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT), and haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN).

• Register to attend

• Reproductive Health and Childbirth Research in Scotland – 1st Annual Meeting. The first annual meeting of NHS Research Scotland Reproductive Health and Childbirth Specialty Group took place on 26 April 2016 at Stirling Court Hotel, University of Stirling. See Agenda.

• Reproductive Health and Childbirth Research in Scotland – 2nd Annual Meeting. The second annual meeting of NHS Research Scotland Reproductive Health and Childbirth Specialty Group was held on 19 April 2017, Stirling Court Hotel, University of Stirling. The theme of this meeting was ‘Creating a vibrant research culture within the NHS’. See Flyer and Agenda.

• Reproductive Health and Childbirth Research in Scotland – 3rd Annual Meeting. The third annual meeting of NHS Research Scotland Reproductive Health and Childbirth Specialty Group was held on 25 April 2018, Stirling Court Hotel, University of Stirling. The theme of this meeting was ‘Maximise Retention and Follow-up in Clinical Trials’. See Flyer and Agenda.

• Reproductive Health and Childbirth Research in Scotland – 4^th Annual Meeting: Strategy Meeting. This meeting was held on 13 May 2019, Stirling Court Hotel, University of Stirling. The main aim of this meeting was to identify barriers and facilitators for recruiting to research studies in the current NHS climate and to continue encouraging NHS Clinicians to get involved in research. This meeting provided a forum for delegates across Scotland to discuss and to agree on a Reproductive Health and Childbirth strategic plan for next year. See Flyer and Agenda.
  
  
• Developing a Research Strategy for Male Reproductive Health for Scotland. A successful focused meeting was conducted on 23 August 2019, at the MacGillivray Academic Centre, Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, to develop a Research Strategy for Male Reproductive Health for Scotland.
  
  Male Reproductive Health is often overlooked and male infertility research is an area of need. However, most male patients are willing to engage with research and as a Specialty Group, we need a research strategy that builds on this. The group consisted of NHS Clinicians working in Fertility, Clinical academics, Scientists working in the academic field, Andrology and Embryology labs, Fertility nurses, Health psychologists. The Discussion Leads were Dr Sarah Martins da Silva and Professor Christopher Barratt, NHS Tayside. Research questions were prioritized and hurdles identified; action points were agreed and are being followed up. See Flyer and Agenda.

• The NHS Research Scotland Reproductive Health and Childbirth Event was held at ONE BioHub in Aberdeen, jointly with the 9th NHS Grampian Research Conference, 4th and 5th October 2024. With the overarching theme 'Mind the Gap', aiming for unifying action in accelerating vital research and heightening collaboration across specialities. Find out more.
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• The 10th NHS Grampian R&D Research Conference, incorporating the NHS Research Scotland Reproductive Health and Childbirth, and the University of Aberdeen's Interdisciplinary Institute Events, took place on 27-28 June 2025 at the P&J Live Aberdeen. The theme of this year's conference was 'Breaking Traditional Disciplinary Barriers'. Please contact the Grampian conference team for further information and if you would like to be involved in 2026 gram.conf26@nhs.scot.