Improving maternal health and reducing pregnancy-related health disparities
Official title: Scale-up implementation approaches to ending pregnancy related and associated morbidity and mortality (PRAMM) disparities
Funded at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · NIH-10908620 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for ways to make pregnancy care better for all women by focusing on community health services, so it can help reduce the number of serious health issues and deaths related to pregnancy, especially for those who might not get the best care in hospitals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $733,212 |
| NIH project number | 5U54HD113291-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10908620 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant women and new mothers, particularly those from communities disproportionately affected by pregnancy-related health issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or who do not have recent pregnancy-related health concerns may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop and test new methods to improve maternal health by addressing disparities in pregnancy-related and associated morbidity and mortality. It focuses on implementing quality improvement practices in community care settings, rather than just hospitals, to ensure that care is accessible and effective for all women. The project will analyze experiences from two counties to create a scalable approach that involves local stakeholders and targets specific issues such as postpartum safety, maternal mental health, and chronic conditions. By emphasizing community care, the research seeks to reduce the significant number of pregnancy-related deaths that occur outside of hospital settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to significant reductions in pregnancy-related health disparities and improve outcomes for mothers and infants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that hospital-focused maternal safety initiatives can improve overall care quality, but this approach is novel in its emphasis on community-based interventions to specifically address disparities.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Johnson, Jennifer E — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Johnson, Jennifer E
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Training program to reduce pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated morbidity and mortality disparities
A multi-year training program helps scientists and trainees build skills to study and reduce disparities in pregnancy-related health outcomes.
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Scale-up approach to reduce pregnancy-related harm and disparities
A national-scale plan to spread proven hospital and community care practices to reduce pregnancy-related harm and disparities, especially in outpatient and community settings.
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PRAMM: a patient-friendly digital program to reduce pregnancy-related morbidity
A digital program called PC-PRAMM uses a flexible app to screen pregnant people, share tailored guidance, and connect them to live help to reduce pregnancy-related complications.
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Multilevel, community-centered plan to reduce pregnancy-related illness and death and close disparities
A large, real-world trial will test a coordinated set of community and healthcare changes to reduce pregnancy complications and death, with a focus on Black, Hispanic, and Medicaid populations.
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Pregnancy and Heart Health: Predicting and Preventing Pregnancy-Related Cardiovascular Problems
A research grant is developing advanced data tools to identify pregnant women at high risk of heart-related complications so clinicians can prevent maternal death.
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Expanding hospital and community care to reduce pregnancy-related illness, deaths, and racial gaps
This project is rolling out proven care bundles in hospitals and community clinics to help pregnant and postpartum people—especially Black birthing people—have fewer serious health problems and deaths.
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.