Discovery Grants are for established scientists with a long history of published work in the maternal fetal health and related fields.
These six annual grants, which provide $200,000 over two years ($100,000 in funding each year) are awarded to seasoned researchers seeking to make consequential translational discoveries that will drastically alter clinical care for pregnant women and babies, whether through evidence-based prevention, diagnosis or intervention.
Simply put, Discovery Grants are funding vehicles for research inquiries that are as practical as they are ambitious, as attainable as they are groundbreaking, and as transformative as they are necessary. These grants are given to researchers with inquiries that have the power to drastically reshape outcomes for mothers and babies in America and strike a decisive blow against the maternal health crisis in this country.
Deadline: Sep. 8, 2025
The proposed research should focus on one of these priority topic areas:
Spontaneous Pre-Term Birth: This topic focuses on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders leading to spontaneous preterm birth. Proposed studies must have the potential to improve clinical care to prevent adverse maternal and child outcomes.
Decreasing Maternal and Infant Morbidity and Mortality by Improving Access to High Quality Health Care: This topic aims to improve access to high-quality health care which impacts physical, mental, and psychological health of all moms. Proposed studies should produce tangible solutions that directly improve outcomes for all moms and babies.
Cardiovascular Health Conditions Developed During Pregnancy or Exacerbated During Pregnancy: Proposed studies in this topic area should focus on cardiovascular conditions that begin, develop, or worsen during pregnancy and identify tangible ways to characterize, prevent, and/or mitigate their development.
March of Dimes invites submissions from:
- Health professionals, health researchers, epidemiologists, and social scientists with doctoral academic degrees and either a faculty appointment or equivalent at academic universities, hospitals, and research institutions;
- Those who are employees of small businesses, startup companies, non-profit organizations; or
- Pharmaceutical companies committed to research in the area of maternal and infant health.
These applications are not limited to US citizens/are open to global applicants. Applicants may not hold any other current March of Dimes grants when applying.
Award Amount: $200,000 over two years inclusive of 10% indirect costs