Operational research on perinatal epidemiology, care and outcomes.

Traditionally, neonatal-perinatal medicine has been concerned with two areas of research: basic and translational. A third area, perinatal epidemiology/health outcomes research addresses those factors that impede and promote the clinical actualization of the advances developed by basic and translational research. Unfortunately, research and training in perinatal epidemiology and outcomes analysis have not kept pace with our need to understand the interplay between risk, intervention, structure and outcome. This knowledge is essential to the development of the clinical/organizational and training strategies that will enable perinatal medicine to fully realize the promise of basic and translational research.