The NPEU is a multi-disciplinary research unit which was established at the University of Oxford in 1978.
Our mission is to conduct methodologically rigorous research to provide evidence to improve the care provided to women, babies and families during pregnancy, childbirth, the newborn period and early childhood as well as promoting the effective use of resources by perinatal health services
Director, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit 1994-1995
It was with great sadness that we heard the news of the death of Professor Judith Lumley on 25th October 2018 in Victoria, Australia. Judith was a world renowned researcher who leaves a substantial legacy in the field of maternal and child health. Among her many great and lasting achievements she established and ran the Victorian Perinatal Data Collection Unit. This exemplified her early vision of the need for and importance of routine surveillance data and the role such data can play in conducting high quality research to improve health outcomes.
In 1991 Judith established the Centre for the Study of Mothers’ and Children’s Health in Victoria, which was later renamed ‘The Judith Lumley Centre’ in recognition of her contribution to building a programme addressing issues of major public health importance for mothers, babies and families.
Judith was recruited as Director of the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit in 1994. She spilt her time between Oxford and Victoria during the two years she was Director of the Unit (1994 to 1995) following which she returned to the Centre in Victoria, where she remained Director until her retirement in 2008.
Her lifetime achievements were recognised in 2006 when she was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her contribution to public health and maternity care.
We understand that Judith died peacefully following a long illness. She will be greatly missed by everyone who worked with her and benefited from her gentle guidance and kind mentorship. Predeceased by her husband Peter, Judith is survived by her children, grandchildren and three sisters.
The Policy Research Unit in Maternal Health and Care (PRU-MHC) was established in 2010 with funding from the Department of Health and encompasses such projects as:
The NPEU Clinical Trials Unit (NPEU CTU) is a fully registered UKCRC Clinical Trials Unit and typically runs a number of large multi-centre Randomised Controlled Trials, such as:
The NPEU also conducts Social Sciences, Health Economics and Epidemiological Research (SHEER) which includes on-going influential studies such as: