NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

EMBRACE Center: Improving Maternal and Reproductive Health through Community Partnerships

Official title: Enhancing Maternal and Birthing Outcomes and Reproductive HeAlth through Community Engagement (EMBRACE) Center

Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11400738 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A United States center partnership works with communities to improve moms’ health and birth outcomes by combining research, training, and local leadership.

More Reproductive Health research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project startJune 26, 2024
Project endMay 31, 2030
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$2,548,727
NIH project number5U54HD113030-03
Project IDNIH-11400738 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Individuals and families affected by maternal health issues in Allegheny County who are willing to engage with community-based care and research partnerships.

Less likely to help

Individuals not involved in postpartum or interconception care pathways or not residing in the study region may be less directly impacted.

What this research studies

The EMBRACE Center brings together researchers, clinicians, and community leaders in Allegheny County to address maternal and reproductive health disparities. It uses power-sharing and community-informed approaches to design and implement enhanced postpartum and interconception care. The center includes a training component to build capacity among care providers, researchers, and policy advocates. Through sustained collaboration, EMBRACE aims to create sustainable methods and interventions that improve health and well-being for mothers and families.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better postpartum and interconception care and healthier outcomes for mothers and babies in the community.

How similar studies have gone: Community-engaged, maternal-health research with local leadership has shown promise in improving care delivery and trust in diverse populations.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
    Pittsburgh, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Mendez, Dara Daneen — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
  • Study coordinator: Mendez, Dara Daneen

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.