Training Program

Jackson State University, Jackson MS

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY: Training Program Despite the urgent need to address maternal mortality, severe morbidity, and disparities, previous efforts have failed to improve maternal health outcomes. Notably, most research efforts to reduce maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity have focused on clinical care and have not addressed the role of the maternal health workforce in the community. To effectively reduce maternal health disparities and improve outcomes, more research focused on the social determinants maternal health is needed. Our proposed Mississippi Delta Research Center of Excellence for Maternal Health will include a training program for early-stage investigators focused on addressing the factors that affect maternal health in communities at the highest risk for adverse outcomes. The overarching goal of our research training program is to foster responsive research that addresses maternal health disparities. We will achieve this goal through (1) increasing the number of postdoctoral trainees, junior faculty, and other early-stage investigators engaging in research related to biological, behavioral, environmental, sociocultural, and/or other factors that affect pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated morbidity and mortality, and severe maternal morbidity in the Mississippi Delta; (2) providing applied research experiences to predoctoral fellows as the next generation of maternal health research professionals; and (3) providing outreach opportunities to reach a broader audience. Our extensive research training program will support the goals of the center’s research projects, address the factors that affect maternal health outcomes, and prepare the next generation of clinical researchers focused on maternal health outcomes.