Gordon is head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Cambridge. His internationally recognised research is looking for better ways to predict problems in pregnancy so babies and mothers get the care they need.
"I am absolutely delighted to welcome Professor Gordon Smith as our Ambassador; he is a long-standing partner in the work of Sands to save babies’ lives, and it is wonderful to be building on this relationship. Working together, Sands and Professor Smith will be able to combine clinical research excellence and the voice of bereaved parents, to bring about changes to clinical practice which will help reduce the number of babies dying," said Clea Harmer, Chief Executive at Sands.
Professor Smith has supported Sands for more than a decade with expert research and clinical advice, and has helped in successful campaigns to highlight the need to reduce baby deaths. As Sands’ Ambassador, he will have a special focus on promoting work to save babies’ lives and improve the range and impact of perinatal research.
Professor Gordon Smith said: "I am honoured to take on this role for Sands. I have worked with them for many years and have been consistently impressed by the charity’s commitment to helping bereaved parents and trying to improve care to prevent stillbirths. I look forward to working with them to champion research which will save babies’ lives."
Professor Smith’s collaboration with Sands includes The Pregnancy Outcome Prediction (POP) study that seeks to accurately identify which babies are at the highest risk of stillbirth or neonatal death and means that treatments can be better targeted, this also means that families whose pregnancies are healthy can be reassured they are also low risk.