# Maternal Fetal Medicine Units Network: University of California, San Francisco

> **NIH NIH UG1** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2023 · $355,300

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Significant disparities in maternal and infant mortality and morbidity exist in the U.S, and the MFMU Network
aims to reduce the rates of preterm birth, fetal growth abnormalities, newborn morbidity, and maternal
complications of pregnancy. Novel strategies, including new therapies and technologies, innovative study
designs and interventions, attention to implementation science, inclusion of adequately diverse study
participants into clinical trials, and input from the stakeholders impacted by health disparities are needed to
improve outcomes for pregnant and lactating people. Although California accounts for nearly one eighth of
annual U.S. births, the MFMU Network lacks a West Coast site. The University of California, San Francisco
(UCSF) has a racially and ethnically diverse patient population, including many individuals with differing gender
identities. The inclusion of historically marginalized communities, including segments of the population that are
highly represented in California, will ensure the MFMU Network study results are generalizable, and will
promote health equity for all persons.
 UCSF is a pioneer in innovative research techniques, such as genomics and metagenomics, as well as
clinical research methods, including community partnership and implementation science. In addition, UCSF
has a robust research infrastructure that has supported numerous translational investigations including
epigenetics and infection studies, metagenomic sequencing in pregnant patients with obstetric complications,
studies of environmental contaminants such as wildfire smoke on reproductive outcomes, and placental
biology, including the impact of COVID-19 and COVID vaccines. UCSF has an extensive network of affiliated
practices and referring hospitals that provide care for diverse patient populations with a myriad of pregnancy-
related complications and together with its affiliate, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, performs
nearly 4000 deliveries per year in mostly high-risk patients.
 Therefore, to support the mission of the MFMU Network, we will 1) Enroll a large and uniquely diverse, west
coast participant population; 2) Contribute multidisciplinary expertise of UCSF investigators to high priority
areas of public health that impact pregnant people and/or their infants, such as the COVID pandemic, the
opioid crisis, and the impacts of climate change; and 3) Leverage our affiliation with the MFMU Network to
develop a diverse group of young academic investigators. UCSF will bring a host of novel and innovative
opportunities, including clinical populations and unique technological and research approaches that will
strengthen the work of the MFMU Network.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10682872
- **Project number:** 1UG1HD112092-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** MARY E NORTON
- **Activity code:** UG1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $355,300
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-04-01 → 2030-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10682872

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10682872, Maternal Fetal Medicine Units Network: University of California, San Francisco (1UG1HD112092-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10682872. Licensed CC0.

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