NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Reducing anemia before birth with a patient-centered toolkit

Official title: Reducing Perinatal Anemia through Patient Centered Community and Clinical Approaches

Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11397548 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A new Stanford-led project aims to prevent iron deficiency anemia in pregnant people by using a toolkit and community partnerships to keep hemoglobin higher at birth.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStanford University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stanford, United States)
Project startAugust 17, 2023
Project endJuly 31, 2030
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$908,587
NIH project number5U54HD113142-04
Project IDNIH-11397548 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Pregnant individuals at risk for iron deficiency anemia, and their clinicians, across participating communities.

Less likely to help

If a patient has normal iron levels and adequate hemoglobin, the toolkit may offer limited additional benefit.

What this research studies

This project focuses on pregnant patients who are at risk for iron deficiency anemia, a condition that can lead to heavy bleeding after birth and serious maternal illness. It will create a practical Anemia Prevention Toolkit that blends evidence-based care with patient and community input, then put it into everyday clinical and community settings. The team will use collaborative quality improvement methods to implement and spread the toolkit so more patients benefit, not just in one hospital but broadly. The effort emphasizes listening to patients’ experiences and working with clinicians and community partners to tailor guidance to real-world care. The goal is to reduce anemia at birth and lower anemia-related complications for birthing people.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this project could reduce postpartum bleeding and related health problems by keeping pregnant patients’ iron levels higher at birth.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that patient-centered guidelines and collaborative quality improvement can improve maternal health outcomes in other areas, but this specific anemia-focused toolkit is being tested.

Where this research is happening

  • Stanford University
    Stanford, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Lyell, Deirdre — Stanford University
  • Study coordinator: Lyell, Deirdre

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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  • Mobile phone-based screening for anemia in young children in western Kenya

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  • Reducing anemia for newly married women in Nepal with home norms and micronutrients

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About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.