NIH-funded research Career grant

Testing a program to screen for sickle cell disease and prevent violence during pregnancy in India

Official title: Pilot-testing and Implementation of an Integrated Sickle-cell Screening and Violence Prevention Program in Antenatal Care Settings in India (PIVOT)

Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-10808507 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how to help pregnant women in India by combining sickle cell disease screening with support for those who might face partner violence after getting their results, to ensure they feel safe and cared for.

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBoston University Medical Campus
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project startAugust 1, 2024
Project endJuly 31, 2029
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$167,560
NIH project number1K01HL168214-01A1
Project IDNIH-10808507 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women in India who are undergoing antenatal care and may be at risk for sickle cell disease or trait.

Less likely to help

Patients who are not pregnant or those who do not have access to antenatal care in India may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research aims to implement a program that integrates sickle cell disease screening with violence prevention efforts in antenatal care settings in India. It focuses on pregnant women who may be at risk of intimate partner violence after receiving their sickle cell screening results. The program uses a simple solubility test to identify women with sickle cell trait or disease, followed by further testing to confirm their status. The study will also explore the relationship between receiving these results and the risk of experiencing violence from partners.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could improve the health outcomes of pregnant women by providing timely screening for sickle cell disease and reducing the risk of intimate partner violence.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that integrating health screenings with violence prevention strategies can be effective, suggesting potential success for this approach.

Where this research is happening

  • Boston University Medical Campus
    Boston, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Halim, Nafisa — Boston University Medical Campus
  • Study coordinator: Halim, Nafisa

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.