Enhancing the IMPROVE-funded Maternal Health Centers of Excellence

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Topic Description

Post Date: April 7, 2026

Expiration Date: April 7, 2028

The Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence were established as part of the Implementing a Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Initiative.  The Centers and Hubs provide a platform to further research to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Current IMPROVE-funded Center and Hub grantees should consider how supplemental funding might allow their projects to increase progress towards their overall goals, especially by expanding research into new geographic regions with high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality.

This topic is being issued as part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative, which is expanding NIH and agency research into specific areas.

Central Scientific Contact:
Nahida Chakhtoura, MD, MsGH
[email protected]

Participating ICOs

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

NICHD will be giving special consideration to meritorious supplement applications that propose one or more of the following approaches:

  • Expanding to new geographic regions/states with high maternal morbidity and mortality, such as maternity care deserts;
  • Expanding collaborations within the Centers and Hubs; 
  • Incorporating cutting-edge technologies, especially those developed by the RADx maternal health challenge, for ongoing projects in the parent award
IC may dedicate funds available to support applications in this Topic area depending upon the availability of funds, the number of meritorious applications, and competing ICO priorities.
IC may give special consideration to support meritorious applications in this topic area.
ICO Scientific Contact:
Nahida Chakhtoura, MD, MsGH
[email protected]

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