The International Society for the Study and Prevention of Infant Death (the "first ISPID", in retrospect) was founded in 2004 as an amalgamation of the European Society for the Study and Prevention of Infant Death (ESPID) and the SIDS Global Strategy Task Force (GSTF). The "first ISPID" was registered as a non-profit charity in Germany in 2005. The initial Executive Board consisted of

  • Torleiv O. Rognum, President (Norway)
  • Christian F. Poets, Secretary (Germany)
  • Martin Schlaud, Treasurer (Germany)
  • Thomas Bajanowski, Member at Large (Germany)
  • Jens Grogaard, Member at Large (Norway)

In 2006 a new Executive Board was elected by the ISPID membership:

  • Martin Schlaud, President (Germany)
  • Marianne Arnestad, Secretary (Norway)
  • Peter Blair, Treasurer (UK)
  • Peter Fleming, Member at Large (UK)
  • Ed Mitchell, Member at Large (New Zealand)

In the same year, the ISPID working groups were established, continuing the efforts of the former ESPID working groups and of the GSTF. The working groups' subject areas and spokespersons were:

  • Epidemiology (Ed Mitchell, New Zealand)
  • Pathology (Roger Byard, Australia)
  • Physiology (Peter Fleming, UK)
  • Psychosocial & Education (Hazel Brooke, UK)

In 2008, the "first ISPID" merged with SIDS International (SIDSI) to form the new International Society for the Study and Prevention of Perinatal and Infant Death (ISPID).