Discovery Research Grants

Discovery Research Grants is sponsored by March of Dimes. These grants are awarded to seasoned researchers seeking to make consequential translational discoveries that will drastically alter clinical care for pregnant people and babies, whether through evidence-based prevention, diagnosis, or intervention.

Grants and awards | March of Dimes We support some of the brightest doctors, scientists, academics, and computational experts in the world. March of Dimes Research seeks to uncover the biological, physiological, psychological, epigenetic, and societal underpinnings of this country’s devastating maternal and infant health crisis — and yet, we know we must do even more, even faster.

While we will continue to invest in research that propels our fundamental understanding of pregnancy and birth forward, the vast majority of our efforts will live in the translational, direct impact, realm, with an eye toward clinical validation and application. Postmitotic accumulation of histone variant H3. 3 in new cortical neurons establishes neuronal chromatin, transcriptome, and identity Funk, O.

H. , Qalieh, Y. , Doyle, D.

Z. , Lam, M. M.

, & Kwan, K. Y. (2022).

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 119(32), e2116956119. Maternal IL-33 critically regulates tissue remodeling and type 2 immune responses in the uterus during early pregnancy in mice Valero-Pacheco, N. , Tang, E.

K. , Massri, N. , Loia, R.

, Chemerinski, A. , Wu, T. , Begum, S.

, El-Naccache, D. W. , Gause, W.

C. , Arora, R. , Douglas, N.

C. , & Beaulieu, A. M.

(2022). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S., 119(35), e21232 Analysis of Electrophysiological Activation of the Uterus During Human Labor Contractions Cahill, A. G.

, Wen, Z. , Wang, H. , Zhao, P.

, Sun, Z. , Schwartz, A. L.

, & Wang, Y. (2022). JAMA network open, 5(6), e2214707.

Explore grants and awards Basil O'Connor Starter Awards This annual award is for early-career scientists and doctors and meant to support outstanding researchers who are embarking on or continuing their independent research careers. Awarded to seasoned researchers seeking to make consequential translational discoveries that will drastically alter clinical care for pregnant women and babies.

Reproductive Scientist Development Program Offered to early-career doctors and scientists in the field of OB-GYN who are early in their careers and recently graduated from medical school or are in the middle of their residency or subspecialty training.

Pediatric Scientist Development Program Offered to early-career doctors and scientists in the field of pediatrics who are early in their careers and recently graduated from medical school or are in the middle of their residency or subspecialty training.

Agnes Higgins Award in Maternal-Fetal Nutrition The Agnes Higgins Award recognizes distinguished achievement in research, education, or clinical services in the field of maternal-fetal nutrition. March of Dimes Richard B. Johnston, Jr., MD Prize The March of Dimes Richard B.

Johnston, Jr. MD Prize recognizes an outstanding scientist who has profoundly advanced the science around prenatal development, pregnancy, and birth. Making impact with research March of Dimes research is focused on ending preventable preterm birth.

We do this by approaching research in several key ways: at both the bench and bedside — through descriptive research that aims to characterize and understand the factors that lead to preterm birth and other adverse outcomes, and through work that leads to mitigation and prevention of preterm birth; and through therapeutics, diagnostics, and/or policy changes. We know that pregnancy is complex.

Our research approach takes a whole-system view and brings the best talent and minds to bear, so we can make a difference in our lifetime. How we're making a difference: March of Dimes research programs have made discoveries that lead to direct impact on the health of moms, babies, and their families. Prematurity Research Center microbiome studies leading to bedside testing; rapid, low cost predictive testing.

Early detection of preeclampsia and other adverse pregnancy outcomes through several approaches, including cell-free RNA, data analytics, and other diagnostic markers. Understanding maternal-infant nutrition, issues such as necrotizing enterocolitis, and how breastfeeding can improve outcomes. Your support helps us fund research There are several ways to support research at March of Dimes.

Your time — through volunteering at events, raising awareness in your community, and recruiting new and impactful researchers to our network; your attention — by focused attention on how research can impact your community, your country, and the global family; and your resources — by way of funding, access to your network, and getting involved in research directly.

We need your help to continue developing diagnostics, therapeutics, and understanding of the complex factors that lead to preterm birth, maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, and overall adverse outcomes in pregnancy. Moms, babies, and families can’t wait for you to step up and get involved. Join our amazing volunteer community and make a difference in maternal and infant health across the country.

Advocate for healthy moms and strong babies with March of Dimes. Join our network and make a difference in maternal and infant health. Help save moms and babies nationwide with your donation.

Support lifesaving research, education, and advocacy at March of Dimes.