Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes in Maine (ECHO-ME)
Funded at Mainehealth · NIH-11397267 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A rural Maine pediatric health program aims to carry out kid-focused clinical trials to improve access and care for children, especially in underserved areas.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mainehealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $420,413 |
| NIH project number | 5UG1OD037941-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397267 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents in Maine, especially those in rural areas, with diverse health needs and caregivers willing to participate in clinical trials.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not directly benefit if their condition is not the focus of a given trial or if participation does not lead to direct clinical improvements.
What this research studies
This program partners with MaineHealth to build pediatric research capacity and run multicenter trials that include children from rural parts of Maine. It plans to engage families, communities, and professional societies to ensure trials are relevant and feasible in real Maine settings. The efforts will create infrastructure, train staff, and share findings to improve care for children with diverse health needs in rural communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families in rural Maine could benefit from more accessible high-quality pediatric trials and faster translation of findings into care.
How similar studies have gone: Other regional pediatric trial networks have shown feasibility and impact by expanding access in rural areas, though results can vary by state.
Where this research is happening
-
Mainehealth
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Craig, Alexa — Mainehealth
- Study coordinator: Craig, Alexa
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.