Global Foundation
for the Care of
Newborn Infants
The Global Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (GFCNI) is the first global organization to unite patients, families, healthcare professionals, medical staff, and scientists from diverse countries and disciplines, all working toward a shared goal: improving the health and quality of care for newborns and their families worldwide. Guided by the vision that every baby should receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place, GFCNI advances evidence-based advocacy, awareness, and family-centered care.
Within IMPROVE PRETERM, GFCNI leads communication, dissemination, and stakeholder engagement across the project. The foundation coordinates the Parent & Patient Advisory Board (PPAB), ensuring that the insights and lived experiences of families are meaningfully integrated into every stage of the research process. Through its global network and communication expertise, GFCNI helps ensure that project findings reach families, clinicians, policymakers, and the broader public.
Teresa Primavesi-Poggio
Ruth Kemper
Ruth is a project manager for maternal and newborn health at GFCNI. She has a background in European Public Health and Global Health, with a specialization in Disaster Risk Management and Vulnerable Populations. She is responsible for multiple research projects within GFCNI and has experience coordinating the Public and Patient involvement, including through Parent and Patient Advisory Boards, for international research projects.
Nicole Thiele
Dr. Annika Brunck
Dr. Annika Brunck is Senior Communications and Project Manager at the Global Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (GFCNI). In IMPROVE PRETERM, she leads strategic communication and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that families, healthcare professionals, and people with lived experience are represented throughout the project. With extensive experience in international science communication and advocacy, she translates complex research into clear, accessible messages and oversees the project’s outreach and digital channels. Her work focuses on strengthening collaboration and promoting equitable, evidence-based care for babies born very preterm and their families.