Pre-eclampsia is a major cause of maternal and fetal mortality in pregnancy. The identification of genetic variants which predispose to pre-eclampsia demands large DNA collections from affected mothers and babies and controls, with reliable supporting phenotypic data. The InterPregGen study has assembled a consortium of researchers from Europe, Central Asia and South America with the aim of elucidating the genetic architecture of pre-eclampsia. The MoBa collection is playing a vital role in this collaborative venture, which has the potential to provide new insights into the causes of pre-eclampsia, and provide a rational basis for novel approaches to prevention and treatment.