Maternal American Indian Rural Community Health Center of Excellence
Official title: Maternal American-Indian Rural Community Health (MARCH)
Funded at Avera Mckennan · NIH-11381584 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A federal grant supports a community-focused effort to improve maternal health in American Indian and rural communities through collaboration, training, and improved access to care.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,078,909 |
| NIH project number | 5U54HD113179-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381584 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are pregnant individuals and families from American Indian communities in rural areas who face barriers to accessing maternal health services.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not impacted by maternal health disparities in the target communities or those not seeking maternal care may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
M.A.R.C.H. is a multi-partner initiative that brings researchers, tribal nations, and rural communities together to address maternal health disparities. The center emphasizes bidirectional communication to understand barriers and facilitators to accessing care, and to develop strategies that reduce mortality and severe morbidity. Core activities include community engagement, a diverse set of projects driven by long-standing relationships, and a training program that emphasizes cultural competence and health research literacy. This work aims to advance maternal health equity through practical, community-centered approaches that can be adopted in similar settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve access to maternal care, reduce preventable maternal mortality, and promote equity in maternal health for American Indian and rural communities.
How similar studies have gone: The center builds on established community relationships and aims to translate community engagement into tangible improvements in care, with precedent in collaborative health equity efforts.
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.