Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Care Lab to help families after childbirth
Official title: Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Learning Laboratory in a Freestanding Children's Hospital
Funded at Children's National Medical Center · NIH-11414760 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A hospital-based program will test easier, faster screening and referral for postpartum depression in new mothers and parents of infants in NICUs and PEDs to get timely help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's National Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $444,103 |
| NIH project number | 5R18HS029458-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11414760 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Parents of newborns and infants treated in children’s hospitals, especially those in NICU or PED settings, who experience depressive symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Mothers or families not seeking help or lacking access to hospital-based services may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a PMAD Learning Laboratory at a children's hospital to streamline screening, referral, and treatment for postpartum depression. It focuses on mothers with infants in NICUs and those seeking care in Pediatric Emergency Departments who may miss routine visits. The team will use a five-phase systems engineering approach to design practical, at-point-of-care solutions that connect screening with rapid access to mental health care. If successful, the lab could lead to safer, more proactive support for families during the critical perinatal period.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families could receive timely recognition and care for maternal mood disorders, reducing risks for both mother and child.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that integrated screening and referral can improve identification and treatment of PPD, but a dedicated learning lab in this setting is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's National Medical Center
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Soghier, Lamia — Children's National Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Soghier, Lamia
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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.