Behind every clinical study is a network of people making sure that the right tools, equipment and expertise reach the right place at the right time.
In 2025, Aurum USA took on one of its largest and most complex grants through the Gates Foundation’s E-MASTER initiative, supporting a global maternal health study across 16 sites in India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda and Zambia.
Led by academic researchers at the University of Birmingham in the UK, E-MASTER is focused on reducing loss of life associated with blood loss during caesarean sections. Aurum USA’s role is to acquire and facilitate delivery of the Triton Tower, an AI-supported medical device developed by Stryker, together with the University of Birmingham. This system measures blood loss in real time during a caesarean section and is being evaluated in resource-constrained settings where maternal mortality remains high.
Aurum USA’s Co-Lead John Hamilton says the partnership reflects the value of Aurum. “Given our significant experience in these environments, Aurum USA’s taken an rewarding partnership role with the Birmingham team.”
Making that partnership work, however, required more than procuring equipment. Each of the 10 study sites was due to receive two large pallets of supplies, creating a substantial logistical operation at a time when shipping routes were being disrupted by conflict in the Middle East.
Much of this work happens out of sight. But getting equipment safely and reliably to research sites is what allows studies like E-MASTER to happen in the places where the evidence is most needed.
The project also represents more than a new source of funding. It demonstrates the value of the organisation’s US-based non-profit structure and its ability to support clinical and observational research with global health impact. E-MASTER is expected to be the first phase of a longer study, creating potential opportunities for further collaboration and long-term financial benefits for Aurum.
But the immediate value is more tangible. “Supporting this project was not only a welcome financial resource for Aurum USA but also an opportunity to support a cause deeply felt by everyone involved.”
The work may happen behind the scenes, but its purpose is clear. Helping a global research team evaluate a technology that could contribute to better management of blood loss during caesarean sections and ultimately, to improving maternal health in settings where the need is greatest.