Dear Friends,
Each year more than 8,000 donors like you give to the Children’s Fund, supporting programs and services that aren’t covered by insurance but are vital to the well-being of patients. Thirty-five cents of every dollar goes to research through the Maternal and Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI).
The widespread unmasking of ongoing racial inequities and the health disparities they cause, which are compounded by COVID-19, has served to catalyze the MCHRI community. We have a renewed commitment to support research on the impact of these disparities on mothers, children, and communities of color. Accordingly, MCHRI recently launched pilot grants for Research on Structural Racism, Social Injustice, and Health Disparities in Maternal and Child Health.
Engaging in diverse and inclusive research is a key component of innovation and is critical to advancing insights into the experiences and needs of these communities. We’re thrilled to announce the first round of researchers launching projects.
Natali Aziz, MD, MS
COVID-19 Household Transmission and Social Determinants of Health in Pregnancy
Erica Pasciullo Cahill, MD, MS
Patient Evaluation of an Anti-Racism Perinatal Tool
Sharon Chinthrajah, MD
Improving Racial Diversity in Our Food Allergy Programs
Michael Frank, PhD
Measuring Children’s Early Vocabulary Using Large Scale Data from Diverse Families
Priya Prahalad, MD, PhD
Telehealth Delivery to Change the Paradigm of Care Delivery in Children with Type 1 Diabetes
Over the next year, these brilliant scientists will immerse themselves in promoting advances for more kids and families in our community and beyond. Research like this would not be possible without your generous gifts to the Children’s Fund, and we’re so proud to partner with you in this important work.
With gratitude,
Mary B. Leonard, MD, MSCE
Arline and Pete Harman Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics
Director, Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute
Stanford School of Medicine
Adalyn Jay Physician-In-Chief,
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2021 issue of the Children's Fund Update.