Nine UK universities have been selected to make up the new NIHR Challenge Maternity Disparities Consortium. The research carried out by the consortium will focus on inequalities before, during and after pregnancy.

It will also look at building capacity for further research to help improve services over time. It will help support professionals who plan and deliver services for women and babies across both health and social care.

Judith Rankin, Professor of Maternal and Child Health at Newcastle University, has been appointed as the Consortium co-lead for Research and Capacity Development. Joht Singh Chandan, Clinical Professor of Public Health at the University of Birmingham, has been appointed as the Consortium co-lead for Research.

‘Improve outcomes’

Professor Rankin said: “I’m delighted that Newcastle University is part of this exciting new consortium which will help make the step change we need to improve outcomes for women and their babies.

“Working together across the North East, we aim to achieve better, fairer maternity health and care by delivering high-quality impactful research, and through developing the next generation of our researchers and practitioners.”

A total of £50 million has been given by the NIHR, of which Newcastle is leading £25 million. Each of the universities are collaborating with several other organisations around the UK. These include local councils, NHS trusts, charities, industry, and other health organisations.

The lead universities, including Newcastle, are:

-              University of Aberdeen (collaborating with Cardiff University)

-              University of Bedfordshire

-              Queen’s University Belfast

-              University of Birmingham

-              London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

-              University of Manchester

-              Sheffield Hallam University

-              University of Southampton

The consortium members span most regions of the UK, ensuring a wide perspective on tackling maternity inequalities. The next step for each consortium member is to build further collaborations before research projects begin in early 2025.

Each consortium member is receiving some initial funding to build relationships with charities, the life sciences industry, and patient groups with relevant expertise.

Once these relationships have been established, the consortium will decide on research topics. A key aim is to ensure the research can lead to measurable improvements in care before, during and after pregnancy.

Professor Marian Knight, Scientific Director for NIHR Infrastructure, said: “We are delighted by the level of engagement shown by researchers with this important research priority.

“I am confident we have an exceptional consortium to tackle the challenge of maternity inequalities; working in partnership with existing NIHR funded infrastructure and programmes.

“We look forward to working with the consortium and their collaborators across the UK to develop the final plans for their ground-breaking new research projects over the next few months.”

Supporting next generation

The consortium will also have a long-term goal of supporting the next generation of research leaders in maternal healthcare. This will allow ongoing research to improve care for women and babies for years to come.

Professor Joht Singh Chandan, Consortium Co-lead for Research, said "I am honoured to take on the role of co-lead for the NIHR Maternity Disparities Consortium. Tackling inequalities in maternity care is a critical priority, and this consortium brings together a wealth of expertise to drive meaningful change.

“Our goal is to address disparities before, during, and after pregnancy by focusing on research that leads to real improvements in care for families and their babies across the UK.

“I am particularly looking forward to learning from and working alongside the communities most affected by these inequalities, ensuring that their insights shape our work and lead to lasting, impactful solutions."