Preterm birth (PTB) is currently the most important maternal and child health problem in the United States. It is the leading cause of neonatal mortality and a significant contributor to neonatal morbidity. In the United States, approximately 12% of all live births are born preterm, an incidence that continues to rise. The extreme cost of PTB resides not only in the immediate neonatal care but also in the longterm care of lasting morbidities resulting from prematurity. Effective prevention or treatment of PTB could significantly lower neonatal mortality and morbidity as well as health care costs. In the United States, PTB costs on the order of 28 billion dollars a year. But, this cost does not stop at the delivery. The costs of prolonged hospital care after birth and the increased need for hospital admission during the first year of life for ex-preterm infants is significant and confers a large economic burden on our society.