The Scripps Research Digital Trials Center has partnered with Microsoft and WebMD, among others, to create a new research consortium aimed at improving maternal health.
The state of maternal health in the U.S ranks lowest among developed nations, with 63 percent of pregnancy-related deaths being preventable.
"Staggering racial inequities make it all the more urgent for scientists to help tackle this national public health crisis," Toluwalasé Ajayi, MD, the principal investigator of the research, said in a Dec. 7 press release.
The research will use a digital, app-based platform called PowerMom that will tap into technology to collect health data that will be used to understand and improve maternal health outcomes. Pregnant participants in the research program will be able to share data from fitness trackers, surveys and EHRs with the researchers through the app.
"We are incredibly fortunate to be working with an exceptional group of organizations whose support will be invaluable to our goal of building a diverse community of pregnant people and advancing research on health disparities in maternal health," said Katie Baca-Motes, director of strategic initiatives at Scripps Research.
Some of the organizations involved include Microsoft, WebMD, CareEvolution and Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance.