Continuing coverage: Preterm birth is the leading cause of infant death, and is a complex problem that has stumped scientists for years. Now, a new study at UTMB, published this month in the American Journal of Pathology, has found a new piece of the puzzle. “We have identified a major factor in the premature aging of the placenta, which may be responsible for some premature births,” said Dr. Ramkumar Menon, principal researcher of the three-year-study, and an assistant professor in the UTMB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. When the placental membranes age too quickly, these tissues can rupture too soon, leading to a premature birth.