On December 5-6, 2002, the PPB convened a two-day planning workshop to develop a research agenda to help guide Branch activities and priorities for the years 2004-2009. The Branch invited 14 eminent scientists to identify areas and issues offering the greatest opportunities and needs to the community served by the PPB. The participants were nominated by the professional societies and groups related to PPB. Prior to the workshop, the Branch prepared background information including the Branch's history including the Requests for Applications, contracts, workshops and conferences, grant portfolios, ongoing activities, and planned activities for fiscal year 2003 and fiscal year 2004. The participants were assigned as champions to the Areas of Opportunity and developed one-page summary sheets on their topic. These summations were revised after the discussion. The Areas of Opportunity discussed during the workshop included:

• Prematurity
• Fetal development, including maturation of individual organ systems and the impact of interventions on long-term function
• Maternal morbidities
• Neonatology (specifically intensive care issues)
• Fetal/neonatal brain development and damage (including prenatal, perinatal, neonatal, and infant periods)
• Training: scientists and physician scientists
• The links between fetal, obstetrical, and neonatal intervention and infant/child outcomes

As a result of this workshop, the Branch published A Strategic Plan: 2005-2010 that describes the discussions and directions for the PPB within the Areas of Opportunity.