Mobile app and community support to reduce high blood pressure during pregnancy for Black women
Official title: An Innovative, Community-based mHealth Approach to Reduce Health Disparities in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy Among Black Women
Funded at Howard University · NIH-11224071 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community-guided Android app and support program to give Black pregnant and postpartum women clearer information and social support about high blood pressure in pregnancy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Howard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 1997 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $333,406 |
| NIH project number | 5U54MD007597-37 |
| Project ID | NIH-11224071 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Black pregnant or postpartum women who are at risk for or managing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and who can use an Android smartphone and participate in community feedback sessions.
✕Less likely to help
People without Android phones, those not pregnant/postpartum, or those needing immediate clinical interventions rather than informational/support tools may not benefit from this app-focused project.
What this research studies
You would be invited to share your experiences with high blood pressure during pregnancy through community-based focus groups and conversations. The research team will use those lived experiences to design an open-source Android app tailored to the information and communication needs you describe. The project emphasizes partnership with Black maternal patients so the app and support materials reflect real community priorities. After development, the team will pilot the app and gather feedback to improve its usefulness during pregnancy and postpartum.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help Black women better recognize, manage, and get timely care for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, potentially reducing complications and deaths.
How similar studies have gone: Community-engaged and mobile health programs for maternal health have shown promise in improving knowledge and support, but using CBPR to build an open-source Android app focused specifically on hypertensive disorders in Black women is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Howard University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cramer, Emily M — Howard University
- Study coordinator: Cramer, Emily M
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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.