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Maternal Health Research Centers  of Excellence

Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence

Overview

The Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence include twelve Research Centers, a Data Innovation and Coordination Hub, and an Implementation Science Hub. Together, these institutions will work to design and conduct research projects to address the biological, behavioral, environmental, socio-cultural, and structural factors that affect pregnancy-related complications and deaths. They will focus on populations that experience health disparities, including racial and ethnic minorities, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, those living in underserved rural areas, sexual and gender minority populations, and people with disabilities. In addition to conducting research projects and building community partnerships, the Centers of Excellence will support training and professional development, prioritizing early-stage investigators and those from backgrounds or identities currently underrepresented in the health sciences.

How We Collaborate

To build diverse teams with distinct perspectives, each Maternal Health Research Center of Excellence engages in meaningful and equal community partnerships throughout the training and research development process. Community partners may include state and local public health agencies, community-based organizations, community health centers, and faith-based organizations.

With support from the Data Innovation and Coordination Hub and the Implementation Science Hub, Research Centers will share lessons learned, participate in trainings and research, and disseminate their results. The Hubs and the National Institutes of Health engage in planning and coordinating activities across Centers of Excellence and the broader IMPROVE initiative.

Learn more about each Maternal Health Research Center of Excellence below. 

Avera McKennan

Maternal American Indian Rural Community Health (MARCH) at Avera McKennan

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Columbia University

Community-Hospital-Academic Maternal Health Equity Partnerships (NY-CHAMP)

New York, New York

Jackson State University

Mississippi Delta Center of Excellence in Maternal Health 

Jackson, Mississippi

Medical College of Wisconsin

Addressing Key Social-Structural Risk Factors for Racial Disparities in Maternal Morbidity in Southeastern Wisconsin (ASCEND WI)

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Michigan State University

Maternal Health Multilevel Interventions for Racial Equity (MIRACLE)

East Lansing, Michigan

Morehouse School of Medicine

Center to Advance Reproductive Justice and Behavioral Health among Black Pregnant/Postpartum Women and Birthing People (CORAL)

Atlanta, Georgia

University of Illinois at Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Maternal Health Research Center of Excellence

Chicago, Illinois

University of Oklahoma

Center for Indigenous Resilience, Culture, and Maternal Health Equity (CIRCLE)

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

University of Pittsburgh

Equity in Maternal and Birthing Outcomes and Reproductive
HeAlth through Community Engagement (EMBRACE)

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

University of Utah

ELEVATE Maternal Health Center of Excellence

Salt Late City, Utah

Stanford University

Preventing Inequalities in Hemorrhage-related Severe Maternal Morbidity (PRIHSM)

Palo Alto, California

Tulane University

Southern Center for Maternal Health Equity

New Orleans, Louisiana

Johns Hopkins University

Maternal Health Data Innovation and Coordination Hub

Baltimore, Maryland

University of Pennsylvania

Achieving Maternal Equity and Transforming Health through Implementation Science and Training Implementation Science Hub (AMETHIST @ PENN)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania