Personal profile
Overview
I am a Professor of Obstetrics, spending 50% of my time in clinical practice and 50% research and teaching within the Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre in the School of Medical Sciences. I am the Director of the Tommy's Stillbirth Research Centre and lead the stillbirth research theme at the Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, which includes projects to undersand the reasons for stillbirth, and prevention of perinatal mortality and improving care for parents whose babies die before or shortly after birth. I supervise students on undergraduate projects through to PhD programmes.
I run a specialist clinical service, the Rainbow Clinic, for parents who have experienced a stillbirth in a previous pregnancy. This is supported jointly by Tommy's the baby charity and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
I have been involved in the Confidential Enquiry into Perinatal Deaths in Cumbria (2009-2010) and have worked closely with Sands and the Human Tissue Authority to develop a national consent form package for post-mortem after perinatal death, both of which translated our research findings into clinical practice. I have written chapters in recent national Confidential Enquiries into Stillbirths and led the evaluation of NHS England's Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle
Biography
Dr Alexander Heazell is a Senior Clinical Lecturer in Obstetrics and Clinical Director of the Tommy’s Stillbirth Research Centre, University of Manchester, UK. Since completing his PhD in 2008 on the role of placental dysfunction in preeclampsia, his research has focused on stillbirth; his research portfolio includes a profile of basic science, clinical and qualitative research studies to give a better understanding leading to prevention of stillbirth and improving care for parents after stillbirth. He has received over £1.8M of grant income and has published over 120 research papers and received national and international awards for his work on stillbirth and placental dysfunction, and for improving care. He led the recent Stillbirth Priority Setting Partnership and was one of the team for the 2016 Lancet Ending Preventable Stillbirth Series. He is currently the Chair of the International Stillbirth Alliance.
Teaching
MBChB 4th Year - Obstetrics and Gynaecology module - tutorials
MBChB 3rd and 4th Year - APEPs
Intercalated BSc Students via Faculty of Life Sciences
MSc Clinical Sciences - Lecture
MRes Translational Medicine - Tutorial and Project Supervision
MRes Maternal and Fetal Health - Tutorials, Workshops, Student Supervision.
Memberships of committees and professional bodies
Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists since 2008
Qualifications
MBChB (Hons) University of Birmingham, 2000
PhD University of Manchester, 2008
Areas of expertise
- RG Gynecology and obstetrics
- Stillbirth
- Perinatal Mortality
- Placenta
Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms
- Lydia Becker Institute
Keywords
- Stillbirth
- Placenta
- Fetal Growth Restriction
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 4 Quality Education
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SDG 5 Gender Equality
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SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
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SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
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SDG 13 Climate Action
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Current management and research priorities for second trimester pregnancy loss: a survey of healthcare professionals in the UK and Ireland (PASTeL-3)
Woolner, A., Linehan, L., O’Donoghue, K., Kaur, R. & Heazell, A. E. P., 20 Feb 2026, In: European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 318, 114899.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Swedish massage as an adjunct approach to Help suppOrt individuals Pregnant after Experiencing a prior Stillbirth (HOPES): feasibility and acceptability findings from a convergent parallel mixed-methods single-arm trial
Fogarty, S., Heazell, A., Munk, N. & Hay, P., 4 Feb 2026, In: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 26, 45.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
An online survey of healthcare professionals' and the public's views regarding fetal monitoring in labour
Hayes, D., Palin, V. & Heazell, A., 14 Apr 2025, Manchester: University of Manchester Figshare. 9 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
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Cerebroplacental ratio-based management versus care as usual in non-small-for-gestational-age fetuses at term with maternal perceived reduced fetal movements (CEPRA): a multicentre, cluster-randomised controlled trial
Lens, L. A., Posthuma, S., Damhuis, S. E., Burger, R. J., Groen, H., Duijnhoven, R. G., Kumar, S., Heazell, A. E. P., Khalil, A., Ganzevoort, W., Gordijn, S. J., Al-Nasiry, S., van den Akker, E. S. A., Akkermans, J., G.M. Nijkamp-Bettman, A., de Boer, F., de Boer, M. A., Boon, J., Freeman, L. M. & de Heus, R. & 14 others, , 10 Jul 2025, In: The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health. 100002.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Effect of Participation in the ‘xxx’ Interactive Artwork on Bereaved Parents Experiences and Perception of Stigma after Stillbirth
van’t Klooster, A., Smith, D. & Heazell, A., 17 May 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Death Studies.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Maternal & Fetal Health Research Centre
Stevens, A. (PI), Heazell, A. (PI), Tower, C. (PI), Brison, D. (PI), Johnstone, E. (PI), Cottrell, E. (PI), Mann, E. (PI), Ingram, E. (PI), Crocker, I. (PI), Chernyavsky, I. (PI), Myers, J. (PI), Aplin, J. (PI), Higgins, L. (PI), Harris, L. (PI), Dilworth, M. (PI), Westwood, M. (PI), Whitworth, M. (PI), Desforges, M. (PI), Brownbill, P. (PI), Ruane, P. (PI), Sturmey, R. (PI), Worton, S. (PI), Greenwood, S. (PI), Sibley, C. (PI), Belchamber, K. (PI), Palin, V. (PI), Povey, A. (PI), Ormesher, L. (PI) & Perchard, R. (PI)
1/09/18 → 31/12/35
Project: Research
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Tommy's 2024-2025 Annual Budget
Heazell, A. (PI), Aplin, J. (CoI), Brownbill, P. (CoI), Cottrell, E. (CoI), Desforges, M. (CoI), Dilworth, M. (CoI), Higgins, L. (CoI), Johnstone, E. (CoI), Myers, J. (CoI), Palin, V. (CoI), Ruane, P. (CoI), Stevens, A. (CoI), Tropea, T. (CoI), Westwood, M. (CoI) & Worton, S. (CoI)
1/04/24 → 31/03/25
Project: Research
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Multi-modal studies to understand pregnancy and prevent stillbirth
Heazell, A. (PI), Brownbill, P. (CoI), Chernyavsky, I. (CoI), Cotter, S. (CoI), Duhig, K. (CoI), Higgins, L. (CoI), Jensen, O. (CoI), Johnstone, E. (CoI) & Whitfield, C. (CoI)
17/10/22 → 31/03/25
Project: Research
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To Freeze or Not to Freeze? The Placental Question.
Higgins, L. (PI), Brison, D. (CoI), Dilworth, M. (CoI), Heazell, A. (CoI) & Johnstone, E. (CoI)
1/04/20 → 31/03/24
Project: Research
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A Heme-Binding Agent for the Prevention of Fetal Vascular Compromise.
Dilworth, M. (PI), Brownbill, P. (CoI), Cottrell, E. (CoI), Johnstone, E. (CoI), Heazell, A. (CoI) & Crocker, I. (CoI)
1/11/18 → 30/11/23
Project: Research
Prizes
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BMA Book Awards 2014 - Highly Commended in Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Crosbie, E. (Recipient) & Heazell, A. (Recipient), 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Impacts
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Preventing Stillbirth and Improving the Quality of Care After a Baby Dies
Heazell, A. (Participant), Jones, R. (Participant) & Sibley, C. (Participant)
Impact: Health and wellbeing
Press/Media
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MAIL ONLINE: Women who suffer the tragedy of stillbirth are four times more likely to develop Lupus in later life, study finds
Kither, H. & Heazell, A.
29/05/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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REUTERS: PM Johnson's fiancée gives birth to boy amid coronavirus crisis
29/04/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert comment
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MAIL ONLINE: Overdue babies are more likely to be stillborn because the placenta stops working as well, finds a major scientific review of birth records
2/07/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert comment
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BBC NEWS: Gestational diabetes: Women left at risk, say researchers
20/03/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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BBC NEWS ONLINE: Quick pregnancy safe after stillbirth, study finds
28/02/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert comment