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NIH Seeking Tribal Consultation on Maternal Health Research Initiative

Dear Tribal Leader Letter: NIH Seeking Tribal Consultation on Maternal Health Research Initiative


On Thursday, June 30, 2022 at 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will hold a virtual Tribal Consultation & Urban Confer focused on improving maternal health research to support Tribal communities. NIH is expanding an existing agency-wide program known as Implementing a Maternal health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE), which focuses on reducing preventable causes of maternal deaths and improving health for women before, during, and after delivery. NIH is launching a new Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence and will publish a new Funding Opportunity Announcement in the upcoming months. Questions for the consultation include the following:

  • How can the goals and objectives of the Centers of Excellence be inclusive of the needs of Tribal communities?

  • Are there research priorities or types/areas of research, e.g., culturally-based practices, that should be included to specifically address the needs of expectant mothers and their families in Tribal communities?

  • How can NIH better encourage and facilitate research partnerships with Tribal communities on maternal health topics?

  • What special considerations for Tribes should be in place as NIH develops funding opportunities?

  • How should the data hub for the Centers of Excellence be established to incorporate and sustain Tribal sovereignty for data collected and stored?

Participant information:

  • What: NIH Tribal Consultation on the Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence

  • Date: Thursday, June 30, 2022

  • Time: 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET

  • Join: https://nih.zoomgov.com/j/1606240175

Written comments can also be submitted to NIHTribalConsultation@nih.gov until July 16, 2022. The consultation was announced via a Dear Tribal Leader Letter from NIH dated June 15, 2022. The Framing Letter provides additional information on the initiative and can be found viewed here. Questions about the upcoming consultation can be directed to AC Locklear at alocklear@nihb.org.


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