Maternal Health Research Collaborative for Minority-Serving Institutions (MH-RC-MSI) Coordinating Center (CC)

Background
The Maternal Health Research Collaborative for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) is a new program authorized by 42 U.S.C. § 701(a)(2) under Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS). The program aims to establish a multi-institutional research network that supports minority-serving institutions to build their capacity to conduct research addressing disparities in maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and maternal health outcomes.

The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), which has a strategic plan focused on achieving health equity for MCH populations.

Grant Details
The Maternal Health Research Collaborative for Minority-Serving Institutions (MH-RC-MSI) consists of two funding announcements: HRSA-23-112: MH-RC-MSI (RCs) and HRSA-23-113: MH-RC-MSI (CC).

HRSA-23-113 aims to build the research capacity of the RCs or their partner MSIs to conduct maternal health disparity research. The award recipient will also provide support in meeting the RCs’ project objectives, collect data to measure and evaluate the Collaborative’s impact and effectiveness, and enhance the RCs’ productivity, efficiency, and public health impact.

The CC will develop training materials, tools, and toolkits, convene a learning community of MSIs, establish a data infrastructure, increase the number of diverse early-stage investigators from underserved communities trained in maternal health disparity research, disseminate research findings from RCs to communities, policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders, develop strategies and tools to accelerate and translate the research into practice with a focus on addressing health disparities and equity in communities, and evaluate the overall impact of the Collaborative on achieving its goal to build MSI capacity to reduce maternal health disparities.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility is limited to public or non-profit institutions of higher learning and public or private non-profit agencies engaged in research or in programs relating to maternal and child health and/or services for children with special health care needs. Faith-based and community-based organizations, tribes, and tribal organizations are eligible to apply. MSIs are especially encouraged to apply; non-MSI applicants are expected to partner with an MSI.

Period of Performance
The period of performance is from September 30, 2023 through September 29, 2028 (5 years). Funding beyond the first year is subject to the availability of appropriated funds for the Collaborative in subsequent fiscal years.

Grant Value
HRSA estimates approximately $7,376,000 annually for HRSA-23-112 (RCs) with up to $461,000 in year 1 and $450,000 annually in years 2-5 per award. For HRSA-23-113 (CC), approximately $2,350,000 is available annually with up to $2,350,000 in year 1 and $2,230,000 annually in years 2-5 per award.