Oxford Maternal & Perinatal Health Institute (OMPHI)
Why this project is important?
OMPHI is an consortium that identifies key gaps in maternal, fetal, newborn and infant health and conducts large international research projects to provide answers to and a better understanding of those gaps.
The first research project, INTERGROWTH-21st, led to the creation of international standards to assess and monitor fetal growth, newborn size at birth and preterm growth.
What is intergrowth-21st and how does it help?
The International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century (INTERGROWTH-21st) followed over 60,000 women and newborns during pregnancy and birth, using WHO’s methodology for the Child Growth Standards. This work led to the creation of new international standards for normal fetal growth, preterm growth, and newborn size at birth.
Since their publication, INTERGROWTH-21st data has also been used to develop the first normative digital atlas of the human fetal brain, laying the foundation for future research projects.
The truth about babies
The INTERGROWTH-21st Project is a global network of over 300 experts from 27 institutions in 18 countries. It aims to develop international standards for fetal growth, preterm growth, and newborn nutrition, linking them to neonatal health risks. These tools support improved infant care and are being used in national and international health programs.
Our global studies
The Oxford Maternal & Perinatal Health Institute (OMPHI) was founded in 2009 under the aegis of the Green Templeton College, University of Oxford. We engage medical researchers, social scientists, and health management experts in some of the major issues affecting the health of mothers and newborn babies, particularly in resource-poor settings.
We are running 5 large, global studies involving over 350 researchers from a wide range of countries: INTERGROWTH-21st, INTERBIO-21st, INTERPRACTICE, INTERNDA and INTERCOVID.
Interbio study
INTERBIO is aims to study the phenotypic characterisation of the intrauterine growth restriction/small for gestational age and preterm birth syndromes at molecular, biochemical and clinical levels so as to develop better strategies to correct the short and long-term effects of an adverse intrautßerine environment.
Some of our research focuses on:
- Anemia and haemoglobin in maternal blood
- Association of maternal metabolomic signatures and fetal growth trajectories
intercovid study
INTERCOVID researched the impact of COVID-19 and its different variants on maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes worldwide. It also studied the impact of different vaccines on the same population.
INTERGROWTH-21st results have laid a ground-breaking truth: babies conceived in and born to healthy, well-nourished mothers grow and thrive similarly, regardless of race, ethnicity, or what region of the world they call home. - Michael Katz
Interpractice study
INTERPRACTICE aims to promote optimal postnatal growth of preterm infants by implementing the use of INTERGROWTH-21st charts for the assessment of preterm growth and promoting breastfeeding to reduce the risk of obesity in preterm born children. It also conducts research on:
- describing etiologically-based preterm sub-groups and their difference in relation to morbidity and developmental outcomes
- pre-term birth subgroups according to gestational age
- variation of patterns of postnatal growth of preterms controlling for sex, twin pregnancy, mode of delivery, feeding regiments amongst those preterm sub-groups
inter-nda study
INTER-NDA focuses on the neuro development of children from birth until age 2. It was the foundatioßn for the creation of internationally standardised assessment of cognitive, motor, language, and behaviour skills for children aged 2 years. These norms are the first standards of early child development.
Research has expanded into the study of neuro-behavioural assessment of infants and the study of sleep patterns.
Useful links
Global Health theme
Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health manages over 30 research groups that fall within either Global Health, Cancer, Maternal & Fetal Health; Big data; and Reproductive Medicine & Genetics.
Intergrowth 21st
An International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium dedicated to improving perinatal health through the development of new fetal and newborn growth standards, providing tools for the continuity of care from conception to 5 years of age.
Maternal and Fetal Health Theme
Our Maternal & Fetal Health research covers the following research groups: Lactation, Intelligent Imaging in Fetal Health, the Clinical Research Group, Oxford Labour Monitoring, Placental Imaging and Pre-eclampsia.
Latest publications
Editorial: Post pregnancy contraception
Journal article
Makins A., (2026), Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 105, 102705 - 102705
Symptom flares in endometriosis: burden, self-management and barriers to care in a cross-sectional survey
Journal article
Coxon L. et al, (2026), BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
The research team
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Michael Katz
President of Oxford Maternal and Perinatal Health Institute (OMPHI).
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José Villar
Professor of Perinatal Medicine & Co-Director of the Oxford Maternal and Perinatal Health Institute (OMPHI).
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Ashley Younger
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
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Aris Papageorghiou
Professor of Fetal Medicine and Director of Research of the Oxford Maternal and Perinatal Health Institute (OMPHI).
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Adele Winsey
Executive Manager to the INTERGROWTH-21st Project Secretariat
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Jimena Villar de Onis
Deputy Director for Programmes of the Oxford Maternal and Perinatal Health Institute (OMPHI).
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Risa Miyazaki Sankar
Research Assistant
How can you help?
Access our INTERGROWTH-21st tools for assessing development & learn more about our research here