U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Maternal and Child Health Field-Initiated Innovative Research Studies (FIRST) Program

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting applications for the fiscal year 2018 R40 Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Field-Initiated Innovative Research Studies (FIRST) Program. The purpose of this grant program is to advance the health and wellbeing of maternal and child health (MCH) populations, including children with special health care needs and the Title V Block Grant populations, through 3-year grants for innovative applied and translational intervention research studies. The program is specifically designed to promote innovation in the field by supporting the exploration of new ideas and the development of new interventions. Research should advance the current body of knowledge, and when implemented in states and communities, should result in health and health services improvements.

The research findings of the R40 MCH FIRST Program should be generalizable to the broader U.S. population, and of regional and national significance. Findings from the research supported by the R40 MCH FIRST program are expected to:

• Strengthen and expand topics addressed by the MCH Block Grant National Performance Domains (Well-Woman Visits and Preconception/ Interconception Health; Low-Risk Cesareans; Breasfeeding; Perinatal Regionalization; Safe Sleep; Developmental Screening; Injury Prevention; Physical Activity; Adolescent Well-Visits and Preventive Services; Bullying; Medical Home; Transition to Adulthood; Oral Health; Smoking; and Adequate Insurance Coverage). For more background materials on the MCH Block Grant, see: http://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs/titlevgrants/index.html. Researchers are encouraged to use the life course perspective as a frame of reference for study proposals.
• Address MCHB Strategic Research Issues such as improving public health systems and infrastructure, reducing health inequalities, increasing quality of and access to care, and/or promoting the health of MCH populations.
• Address the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ clinical priorities, namely, mental health, childhood obesity, and opioid abuse. Proposals must indicate how study findings will further develop the evidence base for the above clinical priority topics.
• Address emerging research topics of regional and national significance that highlight new data, knowledge, evidence, and strategies for addressing the burden of diseases.

Amount: $900,000 is available for three grants of $300,000 each.

Eligibility: Public or non-profit institutions of higher learning and public or private non-profit agencies engaged in research or in programs relating to maternal and child health and/or services for children with special health care needs.

Link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=295205

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