Christopher Redman

It is with great sadness that we learned that Chris (Christopher) Redman has passed away (November 31, 1941– August 13, 2024). He was a unique scientist, physician, mentor, collaborator, and friend. Chris had many collaborations with scientists in the Nordic countries. He visited many times, including supporting ISSHP meetings in Reykjavík, Tromsö and Lund and speaking at NFOG congresses. Nordic colleagues working in Oxford on preeclampsia included Alex Smarason, Marianne Johansen, Pal Øian, Marit Endresen, Rigmor Austgulen, and Meryam Sugulle. He was since prior to his retirement a cherished collaborator to Annetine Staff's research group in Oslo, and loved to combine research meetings, project developments with mountain hiking and literature discussions across the world.

Chris was an international recognized leader in the field of preeclampsia, placental physiology, and fetal heart monitoring, recognized as a “Giant in Obstetrics and Gynecology”.¹ His first trial in 1970 of women randomized to methyldopa for moderate hypertension in pregnancy showed a reduction in fetal loss,² and favorable long-term offspring development.³ He became the world's first holder of a Chair of Obstetric Medicine in 1992, at Oxford.

Chris pioneered the concept of the role of a systemic inflammatory response both in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. He, with his longtime co-worker Ian Sargent and their team, identified extracellular vesicles release by the syncytiotrophoblast as an important signaling mechanism from the placenta to the mother. Alex Smarason, then DPhil student, participated in this discovery by observing endothelial cells damage after incubation with placenta vesicles.⁴ He collaborated with Stefan Hansson's group in showing that preeclampsia vesicles increased vascular contractile responses.^{5, 6} Chris' linking of placental and maternal cardiovascular function and health, has been groundbreaking,^7-9 as has the concept of syncytiotrophoblast stress as a convergence point in a broader spectrum of obstetric syndromes.^{10, 11} His novel thinking has been instrumental, as in proposing unifying models of early- and late-onset preeclampsia.¹²

Chris' other main research achievement was his pioneering developments of computerized analyses of electronic fetal heart rate recordings since 1991. The Dawes-Redman system is now the standard of care for antepartum fetal assessment in 130 countries.

Chris' heart was very much with his patients and their families, creating the Silver Star Unit, a High-Risk Pregnancy Service in Oxford. For fundraising Chris ran the London marathon several times. He was a co-founder of the UK Action on Pre-Eclampsia. Chris received many distinctions, including the ISSHP Chesley Award and the IFPA Senior Award in 2013.¹³ He also contributed to the IFPA Award in Placentology the same year, presented to his collaborator Annetine Staff from Norway.¹⁴

Chris encouraged new research ideas and also generously participated in advisory boards for new start-ups. He met new people at research settings across the world with humbleness and respect, whatever background. Chris made a great impact on the research development of the three of us. We are forever grateful for his willingness to share his time and ideas and for being in our lives. We will all deeply miss his unique and bright mind and his role as a motivator, mentor, collaborator, scientist, and a great friend.

Chris Redman's greatest pride in life was his large family. Our deepest condolences go to his wife Corinna and the extended family, for the loss of a unique and much-loved person.