UAMS Receives $11.7 Million Grant to Enhance Maternal Health Research in Arkansas

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has been awarded an $11.7 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health’s Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) to establish the Maternal and Reproductive Community Health Excellence (MaRCH) research center. This initiative aims to enhance maternal and reproductive health research across Arkansas, a state grappling with significant challenges in these areas.

Arkansas has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation, with 41 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births between 2018 and 2021. Additionally, 49 of the state's 75 counties lack labor and delivery services, severely limiting access to essential maternal care. The MaRCH center seeks to address these issues by recruiting new researchers annually, funding pilot projects, and developing infrastructure focused on maternal health. Initial studies will concentrate on depression screening, opioid use reduction, and remote monitoring for gestational diabetes, with future research expanding to contraception, infertility, and menopause. A national maternal and reproductive health conference is also planned for spring 2026.

UAMS, Arkansas's only health sciences university, comprises multiple colleges and a hospital. Its Institute for Community Health Innovation implements various research and program initiatives to improve access to maternal health care across the state, particularly in maternal health deserts. Programs such as Healthy Start and group prenatal care provide case management and education services to new and existing mothers. The institute also trains doulas and perinatal community health workers statewide and researches interventions like remote monitoring, digital health, and food-as-medicine programs for pregnant women.

The establishment of the MaRCH center represents a significant investment in addressing Arkansas's maternal and reproductive health challenges. By focusing on research areas such as depression screening, opioid use reduction, and remote monitoring for gestational diabetes, the center aims to develop interventions that can improve health outcomes for mothers and infants. The recruitment of new researchers and the development of infrastructure are expected to enhance the state's capacity to conduct impactful research and implement evidence-based solutions.

The launch of the MaRCH center at UAMS, funded by the $11.7 million COBRE grant, marks a pivotal step toward improving maternal and reproductive health in Arkansas. By focusing on critical research areas and fostering collaboration among experts, the center aims to develop and implement solutions that will benefit mothers and families across the state, particularly in rural and underserved communities.