Improving access to mindfulness therapy for pregnant individuals to prevent depression
Official title: Making Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy accessible for underserved pregnant people: Developing Center M for commercialization
Funded at Center Mom, INC. · NIH-10759776 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new smartphone app called Center M to help pregnant people, especially those from Black and Indigenous communities and Medicaid users, access mindfulness-based therapy to support their mental health during pregnancy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Center Mom, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $416,322 |
| NIH project number | 1R41MH134692-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10759776 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant individuals, particularly those from underserved communities, including Black and Indigenous populations and Medicaid recipients.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those who do not belong to the targeted underserved populations may not receive benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to make mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) more accessible for underserved pregnant individuals, particularly focusing on those from Black and Indigenous communities and Medicaid users. The project addresses significant gaps in the implementation of effective mental health interventions during pregnancy, where perinatal depression is prevalent. By developing a smartphone app called Center M, the research seeks to enhance the delivery of this therapy, ensuring that more pregnant people can receive the support they need during their prenatal care visits. The approach includes screening for perinatal depression and providing tailored interventions to improve mental health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce rates of perinatal depression and improve maternal health outcomes for underserved populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that mindfulness-based interventions can be effective in improving mental health outcomes, indicating a promising approach for this specific population.
Where this research is happening
-
Center Mom, INC.
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tilden, Ellen Lane — Center Mom, INC.
- Study coordinator: Tilden, Ellen Lane
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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.