Preeclampsia Research in the News at NICHD; New Associate Director Named

Last Updated on Thursday, November 01, 2012 Thursday, November 01, 2012

We've been working with the communications team at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to provide more news coverage of preeclampsia, and they delivered! Check out their home page "spotlight" for an overview of their preeclampsia research and history, even going back to the 2006 "research gaps" workshop we participated in, and they included a link to the Preeclampsia Foundation. 

In other news, Alan Guttmacher, M.D., Director of NICHD announced that Catherine Y. Spong, M.D., has been named Associate Director for Extramural Research at the NICHD after a rigorous national search. Dr. Spong previously has served as the Chief of NICHD's Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch. In this new capacity she will oversee preeclampsia research projects conducted by investigators from outside NICHD.

Spong is a recognized national and international expert in the field of maternal and fetal medicine and obstetrics and gynecology. In this new position, she will oversee the Institute's extramural research programs and manage scientific activities in maternal and child health, family health and well-being, and medical rehabilitation. The Institute's extramural research activities include more than 3,100 projects and involve 130 staff members. Dr. Spong will also serve as the NICHD Director's principal advisor on extramural scientific and policy issues.

Saving Grace attendees in Washington, DC, in 2008 may remember her talk on the state of preeclampsia research. She is board certified in maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics and gynecology. Spong has received numerous awards and much recognition for her outstanding work, including the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine Achievement Award.