The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Institute for Community Health Innovation has received a federal grant of $11.7 million for its new Maternal and Reproductive Community Health Excellence research center to expand research for maternal health in Arkansas.
Funding was provided through the National Institutes of Health’s Center of Biomedical Research Excellence.
The MaRCH research center will focus on training and supporting new researchers who develop innovations in maternal and reproductive health in Arkansas. The grant, which amounts to roughly $11.7 million over five years, will support at least three new maternal and reproductive health researchers each year. This is one of the first COBRE grants in the United States focused on maternal health.
Additionally, as part of the project, the institute will bring together the top researchers and thought leaders from across the nation for a conference in spring 2026 on maternal and reproductive health.
“This award will help accelerate improvements in maternal and reproductive health in Arkansas,” said Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., director of the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation and principal investigator of the MaRCH research center. “By building a pipeline of researchers and implementing data-driven, community-focused solutions, we’re laying the foundation for healthier futures for mothers and families, especially in rural communities that need it most.”
Earlier this summer, the institute published a study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Global Report that detailed the benefits that postpartum mothers experienced through digital health services, such as higher rates of screenings for abuse and postpartum depression. The study also highlighted the importance of reducing excess gestational weight gain as an important way to reduce cesarean deliveries.
“Improving maternal health is one of the most urgent public health priorities in Arkansas right now,” McElfish said. “We are proud to pioneer real-world solutions that drive meaningful change for women in rural and underserved communities. Every mother deserves access to safe, quality care, and our work is helping to make that a reality across Arkansas.”
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