Waters invests in premature birth testing center

Write a Comment

Milford-based Waters Corp. is investing in an Irish research facility that’s developing a test to predict premature births in expectant mothers.

Waters is putting forward nearly $140,000 in cash for each of the next four years as well as $1.4 million of hardware, software and consumable technologies for University College Cork’s INFANT Centre, the international laboratory instrument manufacturer said. The research partnership will also extend Waters’ Irish footprint beyond the 264 employees at its Wexford manufacturing plant, according to a statement from Science Foundation Ireland.

The research director, Professor Louise Kenny, said the test can effectively “predict the future” by indicating in the first 15 weeks of pregnancy whether the pregnant mother is likely to develop spontaneous pre-term birth later in the pregnancy. Having a way to determine its likelihood could help prevent pre-term births, one of the biggest causes of illness and death in newborns.

“This partnership with INFANT is a strong opportunity to advance our collective diagnostic capabilities in hopes of improving patient care,” Mike Harrington, Waters’ vice president of Europe and Asia Pacific operations, said in a statement.

Kenny said the money will be a “starting investment” and used to help fund additional staff. The deal could result in a more extensive partnership with Waters in the long term, she said.

Waters employs some 5,700 people in 11 manufacturing facilities worldwide.