Urgent Maternal Warning Signs: A Home Tool to Spot Severe Problems After Childbirth
Official title: URGENT: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs Patient Reported Outcome Measure for Identification of Severe Maternal Morbidity in the Postpartum Period
Funded at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · NIH-11132153 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A hospital-based project will test a patient-friendly smartphone tool to help new mothers notice warning signs of severe complications after giving birth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | July 5, 2026 |
| Project end | December 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $467,848 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MD020554-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132153 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Postpartum individuals who have recently given birth and are at risk for severe maternal morbidity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience postpartum complications or who do not use the digital tool may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will develop and test a home monitoring tool called Urgent Maternal Warning Signs to help postpartum patients recognize early signs of serious illness. It will involve a prospective study where new mothers use the tool to report symptoms and trigger timely medical review. The team will measure how accurately the tool identifies risk and whether it leads to faster care and better outcomes. The study will be conducted in hospital settings in collaboration with Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University Health Sciences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tool could reduce postpartum complications and deaths by enabling earlier intervention.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows PROMs can improve early detection of health issues, but this project tests a specific postpartum tool for severity warning signs.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bauer, Melissa — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Bauer, Melissa
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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.