About PLATIPUS

Learn about trial objectives and outcomes

What is PLATIPUS?
a PLatform for Adaptive Trials In Perinatal UnitS

PLATIPUS is a PLatform for Adaptive Trials In Perinatal UnitS, that will explore which medicines or therapies are best for improving the current and future health and wellbeing of pregnant women and their babies who are born preterm.

PLATIPUS is an ‘adaptive platform trial’ – a new type of clinical trial that allows several studies (called ‘domains’) to simultaneously compare therapies or medicines that are being used to care for pregnant women and preterm babies.

Treatments in all domains are measured against the same health scale, which includes a range of possible outcomes for babies born preterm. Many of these outcomes are linked to health in later childhood and adulthood.

PLATIPUS periodically reviews each treatment on the health scale and adapts to what the information tells us. A set of trial rules will decide whether enough information has been gathered to be sure that this treatment is performing more favourably than the others we compared it with.

To further improve access to pregnancy and preterm baby health research, the results of this trial will be shared with healthcare professionals, the families who take part, the wider community, and in journal publications.

By providing better access to the research evidence, we can help to improve the health care provided during pregnancy and to babies born preterm.

Further Information
Background
What is Preterm Birth?


Preterm birth (birth before 37 weeks' gestation) is the leading cause of death and disability in children under five years of age. Despite decades of research, the rates of preterm birth are increasing.

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Preterm Birth
- Causes & Treatments

There is no single cause of preterm birth. Therapies given in pregnancy to women at risk of preterm birth, or to babies born preterm shortly after birth, can help to improve outcomes for preterm babies.

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What is an Adaptive Trial?


Adaptive trials allow medical research to progress at a faster rate. This efficiency means that learnings can be shared quicker to help improve outcomes for the wider community sooner.

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News & Resources
News
Published on
October 14, 2024
Research & Publictions
Dr Clare Whitehead and Professor Brett Manley discuss PLATIPUS with the NICU Lived Network on World Prematurity Day.
Resources
Published on
October 14, 2024
Research & Publications
Publications related to PLATIPUS trial design and research.
News
Published on
August 28, 2024
PSANZ-IMPACT Meeting 2024
Shaping the trial's approach to research prioritisation.
Key Terms
Your go-to page for decoding key terms and definitions found throughout our pages.
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