Gulf South Maternal Health Center
Southern Center for Maternal Health
This project partners with communities in Louisiana and Mississippi to bring proven programs and new approaches that help pregnant and postpartum people have safer, healthier pregnancies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158771 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This center works with community groups, Tulane University, Ochsner Health, and Praxis to set up local research and programs aimed at improving pregnancy outcomes. It embeds researchers in existing community partnerships to deliver and adapt evidence-based care, train clinicians and community workers, and study which programs and policies work best locally. The team will measure access to care, quality of services, and social factors that affect maternal health, and will develop new, locally tailored strategies when needed. The center emphasizes sustaining successful programs and translating findings into policy and practice so benefits continue beyond the research period.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant and recently postpartum people living in Louisiana and Mississippi, especially those facing barriers to care, are the primary candidates to participate or benefit.
Not a fit: People who live outside the Gulf South or who are not pregnant or postpartum are unlikely to be directly involved or benefit from this center's work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the center could reduce maternal complications and deaths and improve access to quality prenatal and postpartum care in the Gulf South.
How similar studies have performed: Many evidence-based maternal health programs have improved outcomes elsewhere, but this center focuses on adapting and sustaining them specifically for Gulf South communities.
Where this research is happening
New Orleans, United States
- Tulane University of Louisiana — New Orleans, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harville, Emily Wheeler — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Harville, Emily Wheeler
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 below.