# Factors Influencing Access and Utilization of Genetic Prenatal Care Services Among Women from Underserved Populations

> **NIH NIH K01** · MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER · 2021 · $3,277

## Abstract

Research: Prenatal genetic services have expanded at an extraordinary pace over the past 4 years with the
development of fetal genome sequencing using cell-free placental DNA in maternal serum. Some
commentators predict that this new technology, which allows for noninvasive determination of an increasingly
wide range of maternal-fetal health conditions, will improve prenatal care, especially in lower-resource areas.
However, this is called into question by research on lower uptake of existing prenatal screening and diagnostic
services among ethnic minority populations, even when structural barriers to access are removed. These
disparities have lead to differential outcomes among some populations, including higher rates of live births
affected by a genetic condition and higher maternal-infant morbidity and mortality. We will conduct
community based participatory qualitative research with women of African American and Latina
ethnicity to assess their understanding of and desire to accept prenatal genetic services. Through our
community partners, we will feed the results of our research back into the communities in question in order to
facilitate fruitful discussions of future interventions to increase access in ethnic minority populations.
 Candidate: I hold a PhD in Science and Technology Studies and have trained in clinical and research ethics
with two NHGRI ELSI CEERS, at Stanford and Duke Universities. My goal is to become an independently-
funded researcher focusing on community based participatory research at the intersection of women's
health, health disparities and genetics. To that end, my goals for this training period are as follows:
 1. Improve skills in ascertaining and communicating genetics and genetic risk in the prenatal period.
 2. Improve skills in community engagement and health disparities research
 3. Build community partnerships that allow for long-term development and implementation of interventions
 to improve access to prenatal genetic care.
The K award would allow me to seek answers to important questions around barriers to access to prenatal
genetic care among underserved communities. It would allow me to pursue training in community engagement,
genetics, and health disparities and to forge links with researchers in the field for collaborative dissemination in
order to build a robust research portfolio around reducing health disparities among pregnant women from
underserved populations.
 Mentorship and Institutional environment: I have assembled a strong internal and external mentorship
and advisory team of experts in the fields of Bioethics and Obstetric Care to guide me and support my
research and training. The research will be conducted at Mayo Clinic, a premier research institution with
access to extensive genetic, health services, and translational research resources that will enhance my efforts
to achieve my ambitious aims.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10115095
- **Project number:** 5K01HG009542-04
- **Recipient organization:** MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Megan A. Allyse
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $3,277
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-03-05 → 2021-04-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10115095

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10115095, Factors Influencing Access and Utilization of Genetic Prenatal Care Services Among Women from Underserved Populations (5K01HG009542-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10115095. Licensed CC0.

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