Recruiting Research Studies

We are currently recruiting for a number of studies. If you are interested in participating please reach out to the contact listed with the study.

SNACS Research Study

Single Dose of Antenatal Corticosteroids
Randomized Controlled Trial for Pregnancies at Risk of Preterm Delivery

For pregnant people 22-34 weeks:

singletons or twins
Received only the 1st dose of Celestone within the last 24 hours (and no other steroids)

Why steroids?

Steroids given to pregnant people decrease serious complications in newborns who are born early.
Steroids trigger maturation of the lungs and many other organs (such as brain, kidneys and blood vessels).

There is recent research showing that some babies exposed to steroids may have increased risks of mental and behavioural challenges, if they were born at term. Half of babies given steroids while in the womb deliver at or near term – because preterm birth is hard to predict.

However, since 1972, the same double doses of steroids have been used. Animal studies suggest double doses of steroids are possibly 2 to 10 times higher than needed.

There is also recent research from a large high quality French study of over 3000 pregnant people showing that 1 dose of steroids has similar newborn benefits as 2 doses.

We need to repeat this research to inform best care for our patients here since we have different diet, environment and genetics. A team of Canadian and Australian researchers, with our 5 parent partners, are studying whether 1 dose will provide similar newborn benefits as 2 doses. If 1 dose is enough, we should use 1.

Thus, after the first dose of steroids, we will do the high quality research study, meaning:

A) a computer will randomly assign (like flipping a coin, in an unbiased way) patients to receive either a 2nd injection of:

1) steroids OR

2) a placebo (like water).

B) The groups will be kept secret until the end of the study, to prevent bias.

We would like to keep in contact so you could tell us how things are going when your child is 2 years old.

If you would like to learn more, please visit www.snacstrial.com

Site contact: Jessica Pudwell, Research Coordinator

Jessica.Pudwell@queensu.ca, 613-549-6666, x3937

We are currently recruiting for a number of studies. If you are interested in participating please reach out to the contact listed with the study.

SNACS Research Study

Single Dose of Antenatal CorticosteroidsRandomized Controlled Trial for Pregnancies at Risk of Preterm Delivery

Single Dose of Antenatal Corticosteroids
Randomized Controlled Trial for Pregnancies at Risk of Preterm Delivery