Durbin, Underwood Discuss Maternal Health Care At UIC Maternal Health Research Center Of Excellence

Durbin, Underwood Discuss Maternal Health Care At UIC Maternal Health Research Center Of Excellence

CHICAGO - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) for a roundtable discussion with health care professionals about UIC's selection by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a Maternal Health Research Center of Excellence to develop innovative approaches to reduce pregnancy-related complications and deaths.

"Every year in the U.S. we lose approximately one thousand pregnant or postpartum women. It is unacceptable that we are losing mothers to deaths that could have been prevented with the right interventions and health care. We must act to address this national tragedy," said Durbin. "UIC is now being recognized by the NIH as a Center of Excellence with new funding to develop and evaluate new approaches to reduce pregnancy-related complications and deaths and promote maternal health equity right in our own backyard. This federally funded work will improve the health of moms and save lives."

"As we work in Washington to pass the policy solution that will end our maternal health crisis-the Momnibus-it's heartening to see that institutions like UIC are here in communities, dedicated to providing good and equitable care for our moms and families." Underwood said, "As the newest Maternal Health Research Center of Excellence, UIC is doing urgent and important work that will save mom's lives. These institutions need and deserve our support, and Congress must pass the NIH IMPROVE Act and the Momnibus."

Launched as part of NIH's Implementing a Maternal health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) initiative, the Centers of Excellence develop and evaluate innovative research to improve health outcomes for women and families and promote maternal health equity. UIC was selected from the original applicant pool after a competitive peer review process and will receive approximately $2 million in first-year funding with the grants expected to last six years. The UIC Maternal Health Research Center of Excellence will be led by principal investigator Dr. Rachel Caskey.

Durbin is leading the effort in the Senate to increase funding for NIH to address the most devastating diseases and conditions facing Americans, including maternal health complications, which disproportionally impact moms of color. Last year, Durbin and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) introduced the CARE for Moms Act to build upon key provisions from their MOMMA Act, parts of which were based in bipartisan initiatives including the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act, the Helping MOMS Act, and the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act.

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