Improving maternal health for Black women through community engagement
Official title: The CORAL Community Core
Funded at Morehouse School of Medicine · NIH-10908721 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping Black women during and after pregnancy by listening to their experiences and working with community groups to find better ways to support their health and reduce the risks they face.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Morehouse School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2023 |
| Project end | March 21, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $377,313 |
| NIH project number | 5U54HD113292-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10908721 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant or postpartum Black women experiencing behavioral health conditions, including substance use disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not Black or who do not have behavioral health conditions related to pregnancy may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on addressing the significant maternal behavioral health challenges faced by Black women, particularly during pregnancy and postpartum. It aims to engage community stakeholders to better understand and tackle the factors contributing to high maternal mortality rates in this population. By prioritizing the voices and experiences of Black birthing individuals, the project seeks to develop effective public health solutions that are culturally relevant and sustainable. The approach emphasizes collaboration with community organizations to create a supportive infrastructure for maternal health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to significant reductions in pregnancy-related deaths among Black women by implementing community-informed health interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that community-engaged approaches can effectively address health disparities, suggesting that this method has the potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Morehouse School of Medicine
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hernandez, Natalie Dolores — Morehouse School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Hernandez, Natalie Dolores
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.