Stanford PRIHSM: Improving urgent maternal care in Alabama’s maternity deserts
Official title: Stanford PRIHSM: Promoting Improvement in Hemorrhage-related Severe Maternal Morbidity
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11397547 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large NIH grant supports Stanford and partners in Alabama to improve access to life-saving obstetric care for pregnant people in areas with very limited maternity services.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,401,953 |
| NIH project number | 5U54HD113142-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397547 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant people in Alabama living in counties without adequate obstetric services or in maternity care deserts.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals in areas with adequate obstetric resources may see limited or no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project partners Stanford University with the University of Alabama at Birmingham to address critical gaps in obstetric care in Alabama. It focuses on improving access, quality, and timeliness of maternal care in areas where hospitals, birth centers, and obstetric providers have diminished. Researchers will work with communities and local health systems to develop practical solutions that can be implemented in real-world settings. The goal is to reduce severe maternal morbidity and improve outcomes for mothers and babies in high-need regions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could reduce pregnancy-related complications and deaths by strengthening access to timely obstetric care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in maternal health fragility has shown that targeted partnerships and system-level changes can improve access and outcomes, though this specific collaborative model is being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: El-Sayed, Yasser Y — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: El-Sayed, Yasser Y
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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.