Research

Professor Smith’s research aims to identify novel approaches to prevent adverse outcomes relating to complications of pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction and preterm birth. A major focus is the outcome of stillbirth, the single major cause of death of the infant in the perinatal period. Recent, current and future research addresses these aims by:

1. Analysis of maternal demographic, anthropometric, obstetric, ultrasonographic and biochemical data to understand and predict adverse pregnancy outcome. This is achieved by primary data collection (e.g. the Pregnancy Outcome Prediction Study), and secondary analysis of other data sources, including research, routine clinical, national registries, and through record linkage of data sources.
2. Studying the placenta using ‘omic methods (in particular the transcriptome and epigenome), comparing optimally phenotyped complicated pregnancies with one to one matched controls, focusing on genes encoding proteins which are secreted into the mother’s blood. The ultimate aim is to identify predictive biomarkers, which could be used clinically as screening tests, as per aim 1 above.
3. Using next generation sequencing methods to determine the role of infectious agents in the aetiology of adverse pregnancy outcome.
4. Determining the factors controlling normal and abnormal function of animal and human uterine smooth muscle (myometrium).
5. Understanding physiological preparation of the fetes for birth as a means of identifying novel therapeutic approaches in infants born ore term.

A major common theme addressed in all of the above is the analysis of quantitative complex data using sophisticated computational methods, both biostatistical and “bioinformatic” methods.

 

Publications

Oliver-Williams C, Fleming M, Monteath K, Wood AM & Smith GCS (2013). Changes in association between previous therapeutic abortion and preterm birth in Scotalnd, 1980-2008: a historical cohort study. PLoS Med 10:e1001481

Wood AM, Pasupathy D, Pell JP, Felming M & Smith GCS (2012). Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, other causes of infant mortality and stillbirth in Scotland: a population based study. BMJ 344:e1552

Flenady V, Koopmans L, Middleton P, Froen JF, Smith GCS, Gibbons K, Coory M, Gordon A, Ellwood D, McIntyre HD, Fretts R & Ezzati M (2011). Major risk factors for stillbirth in high-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 377: 1331-1340

Pasupathy D, Wood AM, Pell JP, Mechan H, Fleming M & Smith GCS (2010). Time of birth and risk of neonatal death at term: retrospective cohort study. BMJ 341:c3498

Smith GCS (2010). First-Trimester determination of complications of late pregnancy. JAMA 303(6):561-562

Pasupathy D, Wood AM, Pell JP, Mechan H, Fleming M & Smith GCS (2009). Rates of and factors associated with delivery related perinatal death among term infants in Scotland. JAMA 302:6

Smith GCS, Cordeaux Y, White IR, Pasupathy D, Missfelder-Lobos H, Pell JP, Charnock-Jones DS & Fleming M (2008). The effect of delaying childbirth on primary cesarean section rates. PLoS Med 5(7):e144

Smith GCS, Celik E, To M, Khouri O & Nicolaides KH (2008). Cervical length at mid-pregnancy and the risk or primary cesarean delivery during labor at term. N Eng J Med 358:1346-1353

Smith GCS & Fretts R (2007). Stillbirth. Lancet 370:1715-1725

Smith GCS, Wood AM, Pell JP & Dobbie R (2005). Sudden infant death syndrome and complications in other pregnancies. Lancet 366:2107-2111

Smith GCS, Crossley JA, AItken DA, Pell JP, Cameron AD, Connor JM & Dobbie R (2004). First trimester placentation and the risk of antepartum stillbirth. JAMA 292:2249-2254

Smith GCS, Wood AP, Pell JP, White IR, Crossley JA & Dobbie R (2004). Second trimester maternal serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein and the subsequent risk of sudden infant death syndrome. N Eng J Med 351: 978-986

Smith GCS, Pell JP & Dobbie R (2003). Caesarean section and the risk of unexplained stillbirth in subsequent pregnancy. Lancet 362:1779-1784

Smith GCS, Stenhouse EJ, Crossley JA, Aitken DA, Cameron AD & Connor JM (2002). Early pregnancy origins of low birth weight. Nature 417:916

Smith GCS, Pell JP, Cameron AD & Dobbie R (2002). Risk of perinatal death associated with delivery after previous cesarean section. JAMA  287:2684-2690

Smith GCS, Pell JP & Walsh D (2001). Pregnancy complications and maternal risk of ischaemic heart disease: a retrospective study of 129,290 births. Lancet 357:2002-2006

Smith GCS, Smith MFS, McNay MB & Felming JEE (1998). First trimester growth and the risk of low birth weight. N Eng J Med 339:1817-1822

Smith GCS (1998). The pharmacology of the ductus arteriosus. Pharmacological Reviews 50:35-58