Funded Projects & Completed Challenges

Funded Projects

• Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence
  • Awards made in fiscal years (FY) 2023 and 2024 to support 12 research centers, a data innovation and coordinating hub, and an implementation science hub in response to RFA-HD-23-035, RFA-HD-23-036, and RFA-HD-23-037
  • The centers will develop and evaluate innovative approaches to reduce pregnancy-related complications and deaths and promote maternal health equity
  • For more information about the centers’ work, visit the IMPROVE Maternal Health Hub (maintained by Johns Hopkins University)
• IMPROVE Community Implementation Program (IMPROVE-CIP)
  • Funding for three projects awarded in FY 2023 in response to OTA-20-014-C (PDF 413 KB)
  • IMPROVE-CIP supports community-engaged implementation research to address factors that contribute to maternal death and severe illness, including mental health, substance use, psychosocial factors, and social and structural determinants of health
  • More information is available on the NIH Community Engagement Alliance website
• FY 2021 Funded Projects
  • More than $13 million awarded to support 22 projects in response to NOT-OD-21-071
  • Focus areas include the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal health and the impact of structural racism and discrimination on maternal health outcomes in the context of COVID-19
• FY 2020 Funded Projects
  • More than $7 million awarded to support 36 projects related to NOT-OD-20-104
  • Focus areas include biological risk factors related to maternal morbidity and mortality and protective factors for healthy pregnancy in populations with health disparities

Completed Research Challenges

• Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Technology (RADx^® Tech) for Maternal Health Challenge
  This challenge prioritizes home-based or point-of-care diagnostic devices, wearables, and other remote sensing technologies to extend postpartum care in regions lacking access to maternity care. Initial submissions were due by November 1, 2022, and final winners are expected to be announced in 2024.
• Connecting the Community for Maternal Health Challenge
  This challenge encouraged community-based and advocacy organizations in the United States to develop the infrastructure and capabilities necessary to conduct maternal health research. Final winners were announced in September 2024.
• NIH Technology Accelerator Challenge (NTAC) for Maternal Health
  NTAC, managed by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, awarded cash prizes for innovative diagnostic technologies to help improve maternal health by diagnosing conditions related to maternal morbidity and mortality. The application period closed April 22, 2022, and final winners were announced July 28, 2022.
• Decoding Maternal Morbidity Data Challenge
  This challenge sought innovative methods for identifying complication risks in first-time pregnancies. The application period closed October 15, 2021, and final winners were announced December 7, 2021.