The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced a $37 million initiative to establish the Stillbirth Research Consortium, aiming to reduce preventable stillbirths through advanced research and technology development.

The consortium, funded over five years, will comprise four research centers and a data coordinating center, bringing together top scientists to study the causes of stillbirth and develop tools for diagnosis and prevention.

According to the NIH, approximately 23,600 stillbirths occur annually in the U.S. at 20 weeks or more of gestation, with over 60 percent lacking a clear explanation. Alison Cernich, acting director of NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, emphasized the consortium’s goal to create a collaborative platform for cutting-edge research.

The initiative seeks to identify root causes and inform evidence-based strategies to address stillbirth risks, addressing a critical public health challenge.