LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Institute for Community Health Innovation will expand research for maternal health in Arkansas by establishing the Maternal and Reproductive Community Health Excellence (MaRCH) research center funded through National Institutes of Health’s Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).
The MaRCH research center will focus on training and supporting new researchers who develop innovations in maternal and reproductive health in Arkansas. The prestigious grant, which amounts to about $11.7 million over 5 years, will support at least three new maternal and reproductive health researchers each year. This is the 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.”
The institute implements numerous research and program initiatives to improve access to maternal health care across Arkansas, particularly in maternal health deserts. Institute-led programs such as Healthy Start and group prenatal care provide one-on-one case management and education services to new and existing mothers. The institute is also training doulas and perinatal community health workers across the state, while institute researchers study the impact of unique interventions such as remote monitoring, digital health, food as medicine programs, and more for pregnant women.
Earlier this summer, the institute published a study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Global Report that detailed 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.”
To learn more about the institute and its strategies to improve maternal health, visit communityhealth.uams.edu.
