Improving maternal health for American Indian and rural communities
Official title: Maternal American-Indian Rural Community Health (MARCH)
Funded at Avera Mckennan · NIH-11136338 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This center brings together researchers, tribal nations, and rural communities to reduce pregnancy-related deaths and serious complications for American Indian and rural mothers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Avera Mckennan NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Sioux Falls, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,469,241 |
| NIH project number | 5U54HD113179-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11136338 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are pregnant or postpartum people who identify as American Indian or live in participating rural communities and who want to help improve maternal care locally.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not live in the participating tribal or rural areas or whose care needs are already fully met by other programs may not see direct benefits from this center's activities.
What this research studies
You and your community would help shape research by sharing experiences, priorities, and barriers to care through ongoing two-way communication with researchers and tribal partners. The center supports multiple projects that target causes of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity and tests new ways to improve access to care in rural and tribal areas. A community engagement core connects partners and coordinates activities, while a training core builds culturally competent care and research literacy for providers and community members. Activities may include community meetings, surveys, service-navigation efforts, and locally tailored interventions developed with tribal leaders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce preventable maternal deaths and serious complications and improve access to respectful care for American Indian and rural mothers.
How similar studies have gone: Community-driven maternal health programs have shown promise in improving access and outcomes, but concerted, region-specific centers focused on American Indian rural populations are less common.
Where this research is happening
-
Avera Mckennan
Sioux Falls, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Elliott, Amy J — Avera Mckennan
- Study coordinator: Elliott, Amy J
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.