Quantitative Elastography for prediction of Spontaneous Preterm Birth

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Quantitative Elastography for the Prediction of Spontaneous Preterm Birth (QEPS)

  • IRAS ID

    349097

  • Contact name

    Kypros Nicolaides

  • Contact email

    k.nicolaides@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 5 months, 18 days

  • Research summary

    This study aims to assess the relationship between cervical tissue stiffness and the risk of spontaneous preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestation in women referred to a Preterm Birth Clinic due to risk factors of preterm delivery. The objective is to determine if cervical tissue stiffness provides an additive predictive effect to cervical length, thereby improving the accuracy of preterm birth risk assessment.

    Funded by the Fetal Medicine Foundation and conducted across up to two hospitals in the United Kingdom, this study will enrol 1000 women with singleton pregnancies who are referred to a Preterm Birth Clinic between 16+0 and 24+0 weeks of gestation.

  • REC name

    London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    25/LO/0733

  • Date of REC Opinion

    7 Nov 2025

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion