Partnership to improve mothers' and babies' health in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The University of North Carolina-Kinshasa School of Public Health Research Partnership in the Democratic Republic of Congo; a Model for Improving Women's and Children's Health Through Research
This project tests sustainable, low-cost health approaches to improve care for pregnant women, newborns, and young children in the DRC.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11144936 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are a mother or have young children in communities served by the Kinshasa School of Public Health, this program works with local clinics and hospitals to offer better care and enroll people in clinical and community health studies. The team runs clinical trials, collects measurements like baby weight and growth, follows participants over time, and studies how to put effective practices into everyday care. Local and UNC experts train staff and build clinic and community capacity so studies can be done safely in rural, peri-urban, and urban settings. Participation may include regular follow-up visits, simple health checks, and sharing health information to help shape better maternal and child services.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant women, newborns, and children in the Kinshasa and surrounding rural or peri-urban communities who receive care at participating sites.
Not a fit: People who live outside the DRC or who are not pregnant, newborns, or young children in the enrolled communities are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to affordable, practical care changes that reduce maternal and newborn deaths and improve child health in the DRC.
How similar studies have performed: Similar global health partnerships and community-based clinical trials have led to measurable reductions in maternal and neonatal deaths, and this team has over 15 years of experience in the NICHD Global Network.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bauserman, Melissa Schweikhart — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Bauserman, Melissa Schweikhart
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 below.