Complex systems model to reduce severe maternal morbidity in Black women in North Texas
Official title: Complex Systems Approaches to Advance Maternal Health Research and Prevention: Developing a System Dynamics Simulation Model of Severe Maternal Morbidity among Black Women in North Texas.
Funded at University of Texas Arlington · NIH-11394044 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A team is building a computer model to understand what drives severe maternal complications in non-Hispanic Black women in North Texas and to test ideas for prevention.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Arlington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Arlington, United States) |
| Project start | September 26, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $703,457 |
| NIH project number | 4R01MD017596-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394044 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are non-Hispanic Black women in North Texas who are pregnant or recently postpartum and eligible for related health services.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not affected by severe maternal morbidity or not residing in North Texas may not gain directly from this project.
What this research studies
This project treats maternal health disparities as a dynamic system, using system dynamics modeling and group model building to map how clinical, social, and geographic factors interact over time. The goal is to create a data-driven simulation that reflects real-world pathways leading to severe maternal morbidity among Black women and to explore which policies or programs might lower risk. By collaborating with communities and stakeholders, the researchers plan to translate complex insights into practical prevention strategies. The work emphasizes translating findings into tools that decision-makers can use to improve outcomes for NHBW in the region.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the model could guide more effective, equity-focused policies and programs to prevent severe maternal morbidity among Black women.
How similar studies have gone: Similar system dynamics approaches have provided valuable insights in public health planning, but applying them specifically to SMM in NHBW is innovative and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Arlington
Arlington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brown, Kyrah K — University of Texas Arlington
- Study coordinator: Brown, Kyrah K
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.