Posted by anderc8 on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 in News, TIPs 2015.

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Written by Vanderbilt School of Medicine professor David Aronoff

On March 20, the Vanderbilt Pre³ Initiative (Preventing adverse Pregnancy outcomes & Prematurity) was one of 14 Trans-Institutional Programs (TIPs) that participated in the TIPs Fair and Reception, a networking event designed to highlight a diverse cross-section of existing TIPs projects to Vanderbilt faculty members. This forum proved to be an excellent opportunity for me to learn about other existing TIPs, network with colleagues across campus and promote the Pre³ Initiative to our community.

It was a great success. Hats off to the Vanderbilt University TIPs Council for arranging this event, and the Office of Cross-College Initiatives (OCCI) team for doing the heavy lifting required to ensure its’ success.

In this environment, many faculty (including me) stood by tabletop displays describing our particular TIPs program. Light food and beverages were provided to attendees who circulated and engaged one another in conversation. The room was vibrant! A striking feature of the TIPs Fair and Reception was the diversity of activities being promoted and accelerated through the university’s investment in the TIPs program. Many of the projects supported through the 2015 and 2016 TIPs grants were represented. Despite the variety of these programs I was struck by the common ground and intersecting interests many of us identified as we chatted. Of course, because the Vanderbilt Pre³ Initiative deals with maternal-child health (which impacts nearly everyone!), it was not hard to find areas of shared interest.

What touched my heart particularly at this event was engaging with a Vanderbilt faculty member whose family had been dramatically impacted by preterm birth. That experience drove home the importance of our work, not only to the community outside our campus but within. Since premature birth (delivery prior to 37 weeks of gestation) impacts nearly one in every 10 pregnancies, it is not difficult to find people who have been touched by this problem, but I find it inspiring every single time I hear another personal story.

As an infectious diseases physician-scientist with a strong interest in infections that complicate pregnancy, it is a special honor for me to help lead the Pre³ Initiative TIPs project. The Vanderbilt Pre³ Initiative is just one of many examples of how an academic center can lead the way to solving complex, multifaceted problems (such as adverse pregnancy outcomes). At the TIPs Fair and Reception, I got a first-hand look at how many wonderful ways Vanderbilt is demonstrating leadership across a spectrum of significant, modern challenges, from environmental science to human health to global politics and racial justice. That Vanderbilt University is invested in fostering these TIPs is inspiring. If you have not engaged in one of these programs, now is a great time!