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Dr. Jeff Murray describes his efforts to build programs which address the problems of newborn infants in low income settings, including birth defects and preterm birth. He addresses the challenges of building a basic and translational research program, and the contrasts in approaches used by federally-funded work and that of private foundations. He also examines the unique opportunities and challenges of both approaches. Dr. Murray has been at the University of Iowa for 28 years. He holds a primary appointment in Pediatrics and joint appointments in Epidemiology, Nursing, Dentistry and Biology. His lab researches the genetic and environmental causes of birth defects and preterm birth. His work has involved international studies in the Philippines, India, Denmark, Argentina, Brazil, Lebanon and Japan. He has contributed to over 400 peer-reviewed publications, is an elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, and was President of the American Society of Human Genetics. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is a strong supporter of his work on pre-term birth in low and middle income countries. For more information on the Foreign Relations Council visit their website.