Maternal and Child Health Field-Initiated Innovative Research Studies (FIRST) Program

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This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the R40 Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Field-Initiated Innovative Research Studies (FIRST) Program. The purpose of the MCH FIRST Program is to advance the health and well-being of MCH populations by supporting innovative, applied, and translational intervention1 research studies on critical issues affecting MCH populations. 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 (see Appendix C). For more background materials on the MCH Block Grant, see: http://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs/titlevgrants/index.html. Researchers are encouraged to use holistic frameworks such as the life course health development (LCHD) and/or the social determinants of health (SDoH) in framing their study proposals; • Address HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) Strategic Research Issues (see Appendix A) 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 HRSA’s clinical priorities; namely, mental health, opioid abuse, childhood obesity, maternal mortality, and telehealth. Study findings will further develop the evidence base for the above clinical priority topics; and • Address emerging research topics of regional and national significance that highlight new data, knowledge, evidence, and strategies for addressing the burden of diseases. HRSA expects each R40 MCH FIRST award recipient to complete the following major activities: • Conduct innovative applied or translational intervention research using rigorous scientific methodology; • Recruit, track, and report study participants from diverse backgrounds to include diversity with regards to race/ethnicity, gender/sex, disability, geographic location, and socioeconomic status; and • Develop and submit a dissemination plan for the distribution of research findings and products to scientific, professional, and lay audiences. Dissemination activities include, but are not limited to, peer-reviewed articles, manuscripts, conference presentations, newsletter articles, webcasts, fact sheets, infographics, policy briefs, websites, and social media posts, as appropriate.

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