A New Zealand health research center announced Wednesday that its scientist are to head a multinational research center that will focus on preventing pregnancy complications in the southwest China municipality of Chongqing.

The new International Pregnancy Research Alliance (IPRA) based in Chongqing Medical University would bring together researchers from China, Canada and New Zealand to study new ways to prevent and treat pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and premature birth.

The Chinese government had appointed as head of the center Professor Philip Baker, of the University of Auckland and director of New Zealand government-funded Centre of Research Excellence Gravida.

The alliance will enable researchers to collaborate on projects with international colleagues, Baker said in a statement.

"China is dedicated to investing in improving maternal health because of their high rate of infant mortality and the restricted size of their nuclear families," said Baker.

"However, while they have capacity and scale, researchers in China recognize the high caliber of maternal and infant health research being undertaken in New Zealand."

Research by the alliance partners meant expectant mothers and their babies in all three countries would be the first to reap the benefits of new knowledge to reduce the distress and ill health that major pregnancy complications carried.

Babies of pregnancies complicated by these conditions suffered increased health problems throughout their lives, including heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.

The alliance planned to expand its membership to other universities in China, Canada and New Zealand.