Created to advance scientific understanding of maternal and infant health, the Steve N. Caritis Magee Obstetric Maternal & Infant (MOMI) Database and Biobank is one of the largest and most comprehensive resources of its kind. With a scientific focus on the quality and reliability of the specimens, the MOMI Database and Biobank collects obstetric biological materials along with annotated clinical information via a rigorous process for quality control. Our unique, web-based inventory system tracks our biological specimens, linking them to annotated clinical data behind a secure, HIPAA compliant server.

These specimens and data are designed to assist researchers in a range of topics. A few examples include:

• The causes and prevention of complications of pregnancy
• The effectiveness and safety of medications during pregnancy
• The effectiveness of vaccines and how they impact maternal and infant immunity later in life
• The immunology of pregnancy and response to microbial infections
• How pregnancy affects women’s and infants’ health across the lifespan
• Opioid and drug use during pregnancy and the downstream effects on future generations

Data from more than 220,000 pregnancies since 1995, adding clinical information from 10,000 deliveries each year.

More than 300 maternal and infant data, including prenatal and sonographic variables.

Variables may be searched in the MOMI Data Dictionary.

The Biobank includes:

• Specimens from all trimesters and from labor and delivery
• Approximately 100,000 specimens, enriched for pregnancy complications
• Over 4,000 demographically representative participants with approximately 2,000 additional pregnancies included each year

The Biobanks specimens represent a variety of pregnancy complications including:

• Preeclampsia and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
• Spontaneous and indicated preterm birth
• Fetal growth restriction
• Advanced maternal age (35+)
• Perinatal infections
• Smoking and substance use during pregnancy
• Obesity before and during pregnancy
• Gestational and pre-gestational diabetes

Banked Specimens include:

• Longitudinally collected maternal blood
• Maternal and fetal blood at delivery
• Longitudinally collected maternal urine
• Tissue biopsies, currently including:
  • Umbilical cord: snap frozen, placed in RNAlater, or formalin fixed
  • Placenta, including villous tissue in RNAlater: snap frozen, OCT-embedded, and formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded
  • Placental membranes: Amnion and chorion collected separately for RNAlater and snap freezing. Membranes rolled together for formalin-fixation and paraffin embedding.

Consistent attention to quality control is a hallmark of all MOMI services. The time between specimen collection and processing is minimized and closely assessed according to the specimen type, to assure stability. The laboratory is directly adjacent to the collection site at UPMC Magee- Womens Hospital, one of the largest facilities of its kind in the United States. MOMI’s obstetric specimen procurement unit is physically located within the hospital’s labor and delivery suite.

MOMI’s team is able to expand its services based on research needs. For example, the Biobank also conducts prospective tissue collection and is approved for additional pregnancy and delivery specimens. The MOMI Biobank can work with principal investigators to provide customized specimens to strengthen research initiatives. In addition to specimen collection, MOMI offers honest broker services and can prepare sections and/or stain slides. We can also provide referrals for other studies. All users must agree to the terms set forth in the MOMI Data and Biological Specimen User Agreement, as well as any applicable contractual agreements. Specimens cannot be disbursed prior to appropriate approvals.

We Offer:

• Honest Broker and IRB services
• Research Histology
• Prospective tissue banking and collection
• In-person and/or mailed study referrals

To inquire about MOMI specimens, data, prospective collection or services, please complete the MOMI Request Form and User Agreement.

Send the completed form and associated materials to:

Dr. Roya DePasquale
MOMI Biobank Manager
E: depasqualert@mwri.magee.edu

Once your request is reviewed, the MOMI Team will arrange a virtual meeting to discuss feasibility and next steps.

MOMI Database and Biobank Core
Magee-Womens Research Institute
204 Craft Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

MOMI Biobank Manager
Dr. Roya DePasquale
E: dpasqualert@mwri.magee.edu
P: 412-641-8869