Oxford joins UK’s largest miscarriage research centre in major expansion


By Dr. Tim Sandle
DIGITAL JOURNAL
May 14, 2026


NHS ambulance, London. — Image by © Tim Sandle

The University of Oxford has joined forces with other leading UK institutions to strengthen what is already Europe’s largest research centre dedicated to miscarriage. This marks a significant step forward in efforts to better understand and prevent pregnancy loss.

Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research, established in 2016, will now operate as a partnership between Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health and existing members at the Universities of Birmingham, Warwick and Imperial College London.

This expansion intends to bring enhanced research capability, clinical reach and leadership to a field that remains one of the most common yet under-addressed complications in pregnancy.

Miscarriage affects around one in five women during their lifetime. Despite its prevalence, it has historically received limited research attention. The centre was founded to address this gap, bringing together academic and clinical expertise across multiple institutions and hospitals.
Driving meta-analyses and policy reviews

Over the past decade, the centre has produced findings that have directly influenced clinical practice. Among its most notable achievements is the Progesterone in Spontaneous Miscarriage (PRISM) trial, which demonstrated that progesterone treatment for women experiencing early pregnancy bleeding with a history of miscarriage could prevent thousands of losses annually in the UK. The PRISM trial has also shown that while progesterone does not help all women with early pregnancy bleeding, it significantly improves outcomes in those with a history of miscarriage.

The results prompted the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to update its guidance, expanding access to the treatment.

Research from the centre has also shaped public and policy debate. Its Miscarriage Matters series, published in The Lancet in 2021, highlighted both the emotional toll of pregnancy loss and shortcomings in care, while setting out recommendations for improvement. Campaign efforts linked to this work attracted more than 250,000 signatures, underscoring growing public concern.

More recently, a pilot of a “graded model” of miscarriage care—designed to tailor support and intervention based on risk—has shown promise. Early findings suggest it could prevent over 10,000 miscarriages a year if implemented nationwide, with thousands of campaigners now urging government adoption.

The addition of Oxford is expected to accelerate progress. The university brings expertise in statistics, trial design, health economics and bioinformatics, alongside Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which will serve as the lead clinical partner. New leadership appointments across partner institutions are also intended to strengthen coordination and delivery.

Professor Arri Coomarasamy, director of the centre, says the expansion would help translate research into tangible improvements for patients. “Every miscarriage represents not just a clinical event, but a deeply personal loss,” he said. “Our ambition is to turn evidence into better tests, treatments and care.”

Charity leaders argue that while progress has been made, significant unmet need remains. For many families, miscarriage continues to bring unanswered questions and repeated heartbreak. By broadening its partnerships and resources, the centre hopes to advance both scientific understanding and the quality of care available—ultimately reducing the incidence of miscarriage and its impact on families.