Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and ŌURA Launch Research Partnership to Study Early Warning Signs of Premature Birth
Project CRADLE is a first-of-its-kind 24-month pilot study that will examine whether continuous wearable data can help predict spontaneous premature birth
The study will lay the groundwork for predictive models that health systems could use to improve outcomes for mothers and babies
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, October 21, 2026--Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and ŌURA, a leading health intelligence platform and maker of the world's smallest smart ring, today announced Project CRADLE (Capturing Risk And Detecting Labor signals in Elevated-risk pregnancies), a 24-month pilot study to research how biometric data from wearable technology can reveal early warning signs of spontaneous premature birth.
Announced by H.E. Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and ŌURA CEO Tom Hale at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit, Project CRADLE is the first live research initiative in the long-term partnership between DoH and ŌURA, previously announced in May 2026, to study how continuous wearable data can advance preventative health.
Premature, or preterm, birth is when a baby is born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy, and can occur spontaneously or following medical intervention. It affects roughly 1 in 10 births worldwide, accounting for millions of births every year, and remains one of the most unpredictable complications in pregnancy. Today, clinicians largely rely on symptoms and medical history, but identifying risks earlier in pregnancy could allow care teams to intervene sooner, ensure families are within reach of the right care, and help protect the health of mothers and babies.
Project CRADLE will combine continuous wearable data from Oura Ring with Abu Dhabi's clinical and genomic data to better understand risk factors around preterm birth. Underpinned by robust data governance, clear ethics approvals and rigorous clinical oversight, this jointly designed study aims to set a structured path from research to real-world application within healthcare systems, including broader integration within Abu Dhabi's health system, subject to evidence and regulatory approval. The initial healthcare institutions to participate in the pilot will be Corniche Hospital and Mediclinic Airport Road, two of the leading maternal care institutions in Abu Dhabi.
"In Abu Dhabi, we are building an intelligent health system of the future," said H.E. Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. "Continuous sensing enables a shift from reactive care to healthcare that anticipates risk, detects warning signs sooner, and enables faster, more precise and personalised intervention. Project CRADLE brings this approach to pregnancy and birth, one of the most pivotal moments in life, building the evidence to guide more timely care."