PRF Hosts Annual ACTION III Trial Progress Review Meeting
Dhaka, 27 August 2025 — Projahnmo Research Foundation (PRF) held its Annual “Project progress review meeting of the ACTION III Trial at the Eden Grand Ballroom, Amari Dhaka Hotel. The gathering marked a significant milestone of 1,900 successful enrollments in the trial and fostered collaboration among partners, investigators, and stakeholders.
The meeting began with a welcome speech by Dr. Salahuddin Ahmed, Executive Director and Scientist, PRF. Dr. Md. Jasim Uddin, Project Manager, presented the study overview and updates, highlighting progress and ongoing challenges. Joining online from Geneva, Dr. Ayesha De Costa, Scientist, Department of Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, WHO, shared her appreciation and congratulatory remarks. The event was attended by Principal Investigators, Co-Investigators, and coordinators from all five implementing hospitals, as well as distinguished representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC), Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Bangladesh (OGSB), Bangladesh Neonatal Forum (BNF), Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), and MR Khan Shishu Hospital. Participants exchanged insights on achievements, discussed challenges, and explored practical solutions to strengthen implementation.
The session concluded with inspiring remarks from Professor Dr. Chowdhury Ali Kawser, President of PRF. A vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Salahuddin Ahmed, acknowledging the invaluable contributions of team members, partners, and donors in advancing the trial’s mission.
Globally, an estimated 15 million babies are born preterm each year, with the majority in the late preterm period (34 to <37 weeks). While WHO guidelines currently recommend antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) for early preterm births, evidence for late preterm use remains inconclusive. The ACTION III Trial is designed to generate the much-needed data to inform future WHO guideline updates and improve outcomes for preterm babies worldwide.