Reducing pregnancy and postpartum harm from substance use in Utah
ELEVATE Center: Reduction of Maternal Morbidity from Substance Use Disorder in Utah
This program will set up culturally respectful clinics and train care teams to better support pregnant and postpartum people with substance use disorder, especially in rural and Native communities in Utah.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11138663 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are pregnant or recently gave birth and have a substance use disorder, this center will offer a culturally appropriate perinatal clinic (including a clinic serving Native mothers) and other services aimed at keeping you safe. The team will also train doctors, nurses, and other care providers using simulation-based, interprofessional learning to improve real-world care and reduce stigma. Projects will start locally with pilot sites for the first five years and then expand across Utah and share their methods more widely in later years. Community partners and implementation science approaches will guide how services are adapted for rural and American Indian/Alaska Native populations.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant or postpartum people in Utah with substance use disorder, particularly those living in rural areas or who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People without substance use disorder, those who are not pregnant or postpartum, or individuals living outside Utah are unlikely to directly benefit from the clinical programs described.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lower pregnancy-related deaths from overdose and suicide and improve access to culturally sensitive care for pregnant and postpartum people with SUD.
How similar studies have performed: Integrated perinatal addiction clinics and team-based simulation training have shown promise for improving care, though culturally tailored clinic models for Native communities are less commonly tested.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Metz, Torri D — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Metz, Torri D
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.