Expecting Excellence: Pioneering Maternal Care
Professor Mark R. Johnson is a leading obstetrician, scientist and founder of the Borne charity. As Professor of Clinical Obstetrics at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, Imperial College School of Medicine, he leads ground-breaking research into preterm labour, maternal nutrition and cardiac disease in pregnancy.
Academic Excellence & Global Impact
Leading maternal medicine through clinical practice, research innovation, and international collaboration
40+ Years Clinical Practice
Four decades advancing maternal and fetal medicine
40+ PhD/MD Students Supervised
Training the next generation of maternal medicine specialists
Global Research Network
Borne operations across UK, Australia, USA with expansion to India soon
3 Major Research Areas
Preterm Labour, Nutrition in Pregnancy, and Cardiac Disease in Pregnancy
Multiple Leadership Roles
Director of R&D, Imperial Campus Dean, ESC Committee Member
ESC Guidelines Contributor
2018 Pregnancy and Heart Disease Guidelines Committee Member
Three Pillars of Research Excellence
Professor Johnson’s research addresses critical challenges in maternal and fetal medicine through innovative approaches and global collaboration
Preterm Labour Research
Leading global initiative through Borne charity with BUMP and Big BUMP projects, cAMP pathway research, and phosphodiesterase inhibitor trials.
- • Global research network across 5-6 centres
- • Collaborative approach with 20 world experts
- • Collaborations with Rachel Tribe (KCL), Suhas Kallapur (UCLA), Sam Mesiano (Case Western), Meredith Kelleher (OHSU), Roger Smith (Newcastle University), George Baillie (Glasgow University), Les Myatt (OHSU)
- • Novel therapeutic target development
Nutrition in Pregnancy
Investigating DHA and fatty acid supplementation across UK cohorts with expansion to India soon to inform food policies and improve maternal-infant health.
- • DHA supplementation trials in the UK with India expansion planned
- • Fetal brain growth and maternal mental health focus
- • Collaborations with Professor Michael Crawford (Imperial College) and Professor Manahel Thabet (KACST)
Cardiac Disease in Pregnancy
Managing the largest UK cohort of pregnant women with heart disease, contributing to ESC guidelines and international registries.
- • ESC Pregnancy & Heart Disease Guidelines (2018)
- • ROPAC and PPCM registry steering committees
- • International collaboration with leading experts
Academic Leadership & Professional Recognition
Shaping the future of maternal medicine through institutional leadership and international collaboration
Current Leadership Positions
Director of Research and Development
Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust (2018-present)
Imperial College Campus Dean
Imperial College London (2022-present)
Professor of Clinical Obstetrics
Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, Imperial College (2010-present)
2018
ESC Guidelines Committee Member
2017
PREBIC European Lead
2015
Action Medical Research Advisory Board
4
Professional Society Memberships
Latest Research
Pioneering studies in maternal medicine, pregnancy complications, and cardiovascular disease during pregnancy.
Published in BMC Pregnancy Childbirth (March 2025)
Published in Future Cardiology (March 2025)
Published in BJOG (January 2024)
Fighting Premature Birth Through Research
Founded by Prof Dr Mark R Johnson in 2013, Borne is a leading medical research charity dedicated to preventing premature birth and improving outcomes for mothers and babies. Originally established as a research appeal at Chelsea Westminster Hospital, Borne became an independent charity in 2016.
1 in 10
Babies born prematurely
60,000
Premature births annually in UK
“Borne supports translational research that advances our understanding of pregnancy and identifies solutions to prevent or delay the onset of preterm labour.”— Prof Dr Mark R Johnson, Founder
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Professor Johnson’s expertise, research, and practice
What are Professor Mark Johnson’s qualifications?
Professor Mark Johnson holds MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery), MRCP (Member of the Royal College of Physicians), PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), and MRCOG (Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) qualifications. He is a Professor of Clinical Obstetrics at Imperial College London with over 40 years of clinical experience. His GMC number is 2611572.
What are Professor Johnson’s main research areas?
Professor Johnson specializes in three main research areas: (1) Preterm Labour – leading the Borne charity’s global research initiative including BUMP and Big BUMP projects, (2) Maternal Nutrition – investigating DHA and fatty acid supplementation in pregnancy across UK cohorts with expansion to India soon, and (3) Cardiac Disease in Pregnancy – managing the largest UK cohort of pregnant women with heart disease and contributing to ESC guidelines.
What is the Borne charity?
Borne is a medical research charity founded by Professor Johnson in 2013, dedicated to understanding pregnancy and preventing preterm birth. It operates internationally with branches in Australia and the USA, with expansion to India planned soon. The charity focuses on translational research and has established a global network of research centres.
Where does Professor Johnson practice?
Professor Johnson practices at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital (369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH) and is affiliated with Imperial College London. He serves as Director of Research and Development at Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust and as Imperial College Campus Dean.
How can I book a consultation with Professor Johnson?
For clinical consultations, research collaboration, or professional inquiries, you can contact Professor Johnson through the contact form, by email at contact@profmarkjohnson.com, or by calling Chelsea Westminster Hospital at +44 (0)20 3315 5000.
What makes Professor Johnson an expert in maternal medicine?
Professor Johnson has 40+ years of clinical experience, has published 258+ research papers, supervised 40+ PhD/MD students, and secured £4.9M in research grants. He is an ESC Guidelines Committee Member (2018), PREBIC European Lead (2017), and has contributed to European Standards of Care for Newborn Health. His expertise spans preterm labour prevention, cardiac disease in pregnancy, and maternal nutrition.
Collaborate in Advancing Maternal Health
Join our research efforts in improving maternal health outcomes and reducing pregnancy-related complications through evidence-based medical practice.