# UNC MFMU: Advancing Perinatal Health via Definitive, Multi-Site Clinical Studies

> **NIH NIH UG1** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2024 · $339,544

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ ABSTRACT
Despite decades of research, the rates of pregnancy complications, maternal and neonatal morbidity and
mortality, and adverse long-term sequalae of pregnancy remain unacceptably high, presenting enormous clinical
care and public health needs. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) Maternal Fetal Medicine
Units (MFMU) Network clinical center is committed to addressing these major public health burdens by continuing
to contribute to high-quality, definitive multi-site collaborative clinical studies. The UNC MFMU includes UNC
Health Care (UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC Rex hospitals) and WakeMed Health (WakeMed Raleigh and WakeMed
North hospitals); combined, there were 15,175 deliveries in 2021. UNC MFMU sites have >30 years of MFMU
perinatal research experience and include three Level IV and one Level Ill NICU, with established graduate
follow-up programs for each hospital system.
UNC has an established track record of success as a strong performing, active member of the NICHD MFMU
over the last 22 years. The UNC MFMU has completed 22 studies; an additional 9 are currently active. Several
currently active studies were initiated during the peak pandemic period; despite this timing, the UNC MFMU
maintained excellent recruitment and data quality, demonstrating our perseverance and flexibility to rise to
ongoing challenges. We consistently enroll racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse participants, and
averaged 6th overall in recruiting from the 2016-2022 cycle. The continued success of the UNC MFMU is
supported by our solid infrastructure, ability to successfully recruit from our large diverse patient population,
experienced and dedicated team, and culture of clinical research. Further, our expertise and unique strengths in
areas including preterm birth, lactation, substance use disorder, disparities, translational research,
environmental science, epidemiology, and beyond will prove invaluable to the MFMU Network community.
The UNC MFMU is perfectly suited to continue to make substantial contributions to improve obstetric care, with
strengths directly aligned to support the MFMU Congressional and public health goals. We will leverage UNC's
unique resources to design and implement innovative multi-site, collaborative research proposals to
address priority areas as outlined by three overarching aims. Aim 1: Reduce rates of PTB and related morbidity
by advancing novel, solution-oriented research. Aim 2: Increase pregnant and lactating people's access to safe
and effective therapies to prevent and treat medical and obstetric complications. Aim 3: Develop optimal
strategies to protect mothers and babies affected by ongoing and future public health crises, including mental
health disorders, substance abuse disorders, environmental hazards, and pandemics. UNC's track record of
success for over 20 years, combined with superb infrastructure and personnel and innovative research
plans that leverage unique site-spec...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10818488
- **Project number:** 5UG1HD040560-25
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** John M Thorp
- **Activity code:** UG1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $339,544
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2001-04-18 → 2030-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10818488

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10818488, UNC MFMU: Advancing Perinatal Health via Definitive, Multi-Site Clinical Studies (5UG1HD040560-25). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10818488. Licensed CC0.

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