Meet the PrenaBelt Team!


The PrenaBelt Project encompasses an international team conducting innovative and novel research for the cause of stillbirth and low birth weight. Our team consists of over 30 spectacular individuals – nurses, midwives, physicians, engineers, designers, researchers, students, and more – across four countries and from some amazing organizations:

  • Global Innovations for Reproductive Health & Life (GIRHL) – Cleveland, USA
  • Korle Bu Teaching Hospital – Accra, Ghana
  • Kaishin Chu Design – Vancouver, Canada
  • University of South Australia – Adelaide, Australia
  • IWK Health Centre – Halifax, Canada
  • Innovative Canadians for Change (ICChange) – Edmonton, Canada
  • Nova Scotia Health Authority – Halifax, Canada
  • University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, USA
  • Dalhousie University – Halifax, Canada
  • Harvard Business School – Boston, USA


  • Allan Kember

    Project Lead, Principal Investigator, GIRHL

    Allan grew up in Summerside, Prince Edward Island and graduated from the mechanical engineering program at the University of New Brunswick in 2012. He worked as a Senior Research Engineer at Zimmer, Inc. in the USofA for two years and is currently in his second year of medical school at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Allan's research interests include stillbirth, low birth weight, pre-eclampsia, and obstetric fistula. His work with GIRHL aims to develop and deliver innovative and evidence-based solutions to real-world maternal and newborn health challenges using a medico-engineering approach.

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    Ghana

    Dr. Jerry Coleman – Principal Investigator (Ghana PrenaBelt Trial), Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry

    Joyce Dodoo – Principal Nursing Officer, Korle Korle Bu Teaching Hospital

    Jemima Marfo – Midwifery Officer, Korle Korle Bu Teaching Hospital

    Josephine Kwaw – Midwife Officer, Korle Korle Bu Teaching Hospital

    Rose Quartey – Nurse Midwife, Korle Korle Bu Teaching Hospital

    Maxfield Okere – Biostatistician, Research Assistant, Korle Korle Bu Teaching Hospital

    Prof. Joseph Seffah – Local Independent Monitor, Korle Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry

    Design: Double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized trial in 200 healthy, third-trimester pregnant women.

    We are super stoked about our progress in Ghana! The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) is the third largest hospital in continental Africa. Over 11,000 babies are born at KBTH yearly – that’s 31 babies per day on average! Our Ghanaian team is world class! We count it a privilege to be a part of this collaboration!

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    Canada

    Dr. Heather Scott – Principal Investigator (Halifax PrenaBelt Trial), IWK Health Centre

    Dr. Debra Morrison – Co-Investigator, Nova Scotia Health Authority

    Kaishin Chu – Consultant Designer, Kaishin Design

    Jesse Wells – Project Coordinator, GIRHL

    Sarah MacRitchie – Research Assistant, GIRHL

    Janet Slaunwhite – Administrative Coordinator, IWK Health Centre

    Darlene Baxendale – Research Assistant, IWK Health Centre

    Nooshin Sobhani – Polysomnography Research Assistant, Dalhousie University

    Allison Keeping – Polysomnography Research Assistant, Dalhousie University

    Laura Miller – Polysomnography Research Assistant, Dalhousie University

    Michael Butler – Consultant Statistician, Dalhousie University

    Dr. Andre Isaac – Project Advisor, Finance Officer, Innovative Canadians for Change

    Design: Two-night, randomized, cross-over, sham-controlled, double-blind, sleep (level 1) study in 25 healthy, third-trimester pregnant women.

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    USA

    Dr. Ali Borazjani – Co-Investigator, GIRHL

    Dr. Louise O’Brien – Co-Investigator, Scientific Mentor, University of Michigan

    Beth Sterrett – Director of Development, GIRHL

    Josh Jeanson – Legal Counsel, GIRHL

    Dr. John MacArthur – Business Mentor, Harvard Business School

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    Australia

    Dr. Jane Warland – Principal Investigator (Adelaide PrenaBelt Trial), University of South Australia

    Prof. Janna Morrison – Co-Investigator, University of South Australia

    Dr. Craig Phillips – Co-Investigator, University of South Australia

    A/Prof. Jill Dorrian – Co-Investigator, University of South Australia

    Design: Two night, cross-over, randomized controlled sleep (level 3) study in 25 healthy, third-trimester pregnant women.

    We are intensely proud of our collaborators in Australia - data analysis is well underway there! We are excited to see the results, so stay tuned!

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    Video

    Story time with Allan Kember

    In this video, Allan talks a little about his story and a lot about the PrenaBelt Project story. He tells of the events that led to the conception and birth of the PrenaBelt. Allan also explains the progress of the three current PrenaBelt trials in Australia, Ghana, and Canada.



    [youtube_video https://youtu.be/YRiT7cLVBA0 ]