Safe for mom and baby

Margo Klar

Umbilical cord infection results from cord contamination during unsanitary childbirth conditions, and the infection can often lead to sepsis and neonatal mortality. With the help of funding through Grand Challenges Explorations, an initiative created by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a UF doctoral student is working to help solve this problem.Margo Klar, M.P.H., a doctoral student in the department of epidemiology in the College of Public Health and Health Professions and the College of Medicine, received nearly half a million dollars to conduct feasibility testing of a ceramic umbilical cord cutting device she created for use in low-resource countries. The device does not rust, is reusable and easily sterilized, and can be used safely without injury to the newborn or health care worker. “It is my hope that the Ceramic Cord Cutting Device promotes good birthing hygiene by encouraging positive behavior change and reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with umbilical cord infection,” Klar said. “I am grateful to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for working closely with our team to ensure that we have the resources necessary to be successful.” — Jill Pease