Did you know that by simply providing some of the biological samples collected during your prenatal care and at delivery, you can help create a healthier future for other mothers and their infants? Participate in the MOMI (Magee Obstetric Maternal and Infant) Biobank, and we’ll do the rest.

When you participate in the MOMI Biobank research study, your samples, like blood, urine, and placenta, help researchers who are studying topics like the causes and prevention of premature birth, the impact of pregnancy on the mother’s heart health, and what information the placenta tells us about the mother’s and infant’s health.

The MOMI Biobank partners with thousands of women who provide medical information and specimens during their pregnancies and births. These contributions create knowledge that may improve the health of women and future generations. When researchers can analyze this powerful information and detect patterns, medical discoveries to improve and save women’s and infant’s lives are limitless.

Participation is easy. Most of the specimens collected for the MOMI Biobank are already being collected during your clinical care or would otherwise be discarded. MOMI staff will coordinate collection with your care providers so that there are no additional steps for you.

You can opt out of MOMI collections or withdraw at any time.

Women who:

• Are pregnant
• Are over 18
• Plan to deliver at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital

Contact us about MOMI Biobank. Someone from the MOMI team will contact you to review the consent form, discuss how specimens will be collected during your pregnancy and birth, answer your questions, and help you to enroll before your next appointment. You can also reach the MOMI Biobank, email momibiobank@mwri.magee.edu or call us at 412-440-8515.

MOMI staff are located at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. If you get your prenatal labwork done at Magee, MOMI staff can help you enroll at this time as well.

Once you’re enrolled, MOMI staff will then coordinate with your care providers to collect blood, urine, cord blood and placental tissues, and other specimens during the course of your normal care.

Your privacy is very important to us. The MOMI Biobank maintains the highest standards of privacy and confidentiality. When your specimens and medical information are made available for actual use in research studies, specimens and information will be provided to researchers without names or personal identifiers. Your identity cannot be easily connected with your specimens or medical information.

These are some of the subjects that researchers are using the MOMI Biobank to address:

• The causes of premature birth and how to prevent it.
• The effectiveness and safety of medication and treatments during pregnancy.
• The effectiveness of vaccines and how they affect maternal and infant immunity later in life.
• How pregnancy affects women’s heart health later in life.

The MOMI Biobank Oversight and Review Committee works in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh to review all requests for specimens. To receive consideration for the use of MOMI specimens and data, research projects must align with MWRI’s research and education mission.

You can contact the MOMI Biobank at momibiobank@mwri.magee.edu.