Understanding pregnancy and birth differences across racial and ethnic groups in Wisconsin
Official title: RFA-DP-21-001 DP006598 Wisconsin Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Systems (PRAMS): Understanding Racial Disparities
Funded at Wisconsin Department of Health Services · NIH-11534242 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project asks mothers who recently had a baby in Wisconsin about their pregnancy and postpartum experiences to learn what may lead to different outcomes for different racial and ethnic groups.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wisconsin Department of Health Services NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $175,000 |
| NIH project number | 6U01DP006598-05M002 |
| Project ID | NIH-11534242 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people who recently had a live birth in Wisconsin during the project period, with particular attention to mothers from diverse racial and ethnic groups.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not recent birthing parents in Wisconsin or who do not fall into the sampled population will not be eligible to participate and will not directly benefit from participation.
What this research studies
If you recently had a baby in Wisconsin, you may be invited to complete a survey about your experiences before, during, and after pregnancy. The survey selects a random sample of recent mothers and intentionally includes people from different racial and ethnic groups so their experiences are represented. Questions cover behaviors, attitudes, and health care experiences that could affect maternal and infant outcomes. The Wisconsin health department will analyze responses and share findings with public health programs and policymakers to help improve services.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help health programs and policymakers reduce racial disparities in maternal and infant health in Wisconsin.
How similar studies have gone: PRAMS is an established, nationwide survey system that has previously helped states identify maternal and infant health disparities and guide program and policy changes.
Where this research is happening
-
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Diedrick, Meg — Wisconsin Department of Health Services
- Study coordinator: Diedrick, Meg
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How air pollution during pregnancy affects fetal growth over time
This study looks at how air pollution affects the growth of babies in the womb during pregnancy, using ultrasound images to track changes over time, and it aims to help expectant parents understand when their babies might be most at risk from pollution.
-
Postoperative Pain Guidelines for Pregnancy: Safer, Patient-Centered Opioid Use
We’re creating patient-friendly guidelines to help doctors manage pain after delivery and surgery in pregnant people, aiming to reduce opioid overuse and improve safety.
-
HPV and pregnancy risk: a big study following 1,280 pregnancies
A large pregnancy study at UTMB looks at whether human papillomavirus (HPV) during pregnancy is linked to problems like preterm birth.
-
Understanding how where you live and personal factors during pregnancy affect a child’s risk for obesity and metabolic problems
This project looks at how neighborhood conditions and individual factors during pregnancy may influence a child’s risk of obesity and metabolic health as they grow.
-
Blocking cancer-causing cMYC tricks after pregnancy changes in the breast
Researchers are testing how pregnancy and aging reshape the breast before cancer risk, using patient-reinformed models to see if it changes how dangerous cMYC signals behave.
-
SSRI use during pregnancy: effects on placental blood flow and inflammation
This grant studies how antidepressants (SSRIs) used during pregnancy might affect the placenta and inflammation, and whether a 5-HT2 receptor blocker could mitigate any negative effects.
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.