Improving health for mothers and young children in Bangladesh and similar regions
NICHD Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research: Research Units
This program tests care approaches and treatments to help pregnant women and young children in Bangladesh and similar low‑resource communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11372604 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be seen at local clinics run by the Network where researchers collect health information and sometimes biological samples, and may offer interventions like nutritional support, vaccines, or treatments depending on the project. The unit enrolls thousands of pregnant women and follows mothers and babies after birth to track infections, anemia, growth, and development. Studies include work on COVID‑19 in pregnancy, maternal anemia, lactation, vaccines, and childhood infections. The team works with local community leaders and ethics boards to protect participants and adapt studies to local needs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant women and young children (including infants) who live in the Network's catchment areas—particularly in Bangladesh—and who can attend clinic visits and agree to give health information or samples.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, live far from Network sites, or have health concerns unrelated to maternal‑child infections or anemia may not receive direct benefit from these studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these efforts could reduce maternal and newborn deaths, lower anemia and infection rates, and improve child growth and development in the participating communities.
How similar studies have performed: The Network has led successful multi‑site studies (for example showing minimal COVID‑19 impact on birth outcomes) and has experience with vaccine, infection, and anemia research, though some interventions are still being tested in these settings.
Where this research is happening
Charlottesville, United States
- University of Virginia — Charlottesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Petri, William a — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Petri, William a
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.