title: The National Institutes of Health Workshop on Fetal Treatment: needs assessment and future directions.
abstract: The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and Office of Rare Diseases convened a multidisciplinary group of experts on August 16-17, 2004, for a workshop entitled ''Fetal Treatment: Needs Assessment and Future Directions.'' The purpose of the workshop was to develop a plan for the surgical, obstetric, neonatal, and maternal-fetal fields for the evaluation and dissemination of maternal-fetal surgical innovations and to further the scientific evaluation of maternal-fetal surgery. This article highlights the discussions and outlines recommendations for the future. An overarching recommendation was for the formation of a cooperative group of investigators and clinicians to help set a national agenda for research and clinical progress, as well as emphasize ethical issues.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Northwestern University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-2521, USA. nancy.chescheir@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Nancy C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Chescheir
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Socol
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D046128:Fetal Therapies / Q000941:ethics / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D023421:Models, Animal; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011247:Pregnancy; D011634:Public Health; D014481:United States