The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has committed £50 million over five years to establish the NIHR Inequalities Challenge: Maternity Disparities Consortium the most significant investment in maternal health research in a generation.
The Consortium will bring together clinicians, researchers, women, families and communities across all four nations of the UK to develop practical, evidence-based solutions that can improve care, reduce avoidable harm and support better outcomes for mothers, babies and families.
The launch comes at a pivotal moment, with national attention firmly focused on improving safety, equity and women’s experiences of maternity care. The Government’s renewed Women’s Health Strategy highlights the urgent need to improve care before and between pregnancies for marginalised communities and the Consortium will generate the evidence and interventions needed to turn that ambition into reality.
Maternal health inequalities remain one of the most pressing challenges facing the NHS. Black women in the UK continue to face a substantially higher risk of dying during or after pregnancy than white women, and families in the most deprived communities consistently experience poorer outcomes. The Consortium’s work is built on the premise that these inequalities are not inevitable.
“This funding represents a critical opportunity to make the step change we need to improve outcomes for women and their babies. Alongside the research, the Consortium will be investing in tomorrow’s research leaders today to ensure we have the capacity to deliver on improving pregnancy outcomes, access to, and experience of, care”, says Professor Judith Rankin OBE, Consortium Co-lead for Research and Capacity Development.
“National attention on maternity safety and equity has never been greater, but ambition must now be matched by evidence and implementation. Through this consortium, we will work across the UK to understand what works, for whom and in what contexts, and to ensure that research leads to practical changes in care for the women, babies and families who need them most,” says Professor Joht Singh Chandan, Consortium Co-lead for Research.
Key Research Areas
- Before and between pregnancies — improving access to advice and care that helps people prepare for pregnancy, manage existing health conditions, and reduce risks early.
- Pregnancy, birth and early recovery — addressing major causes of poor maternal health including high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, perinatal mental health and postnatal complications.
- Care for babies and families after birth — developing better ways to support higher-risk families, including improved follow-up care and stronger links between hospital and community services.
- Access, communication and experience of care — making services easier to access and understand, with better language support and shared decision-making.
- Tackling racism, discrimination and unfairness — embedding anti-discrimination principles into how interventions are designed, delivered and evaluated.
- Working with communities — involving women, families and community organisations from the outset, including peer researchers and voluntary sector partners.
- Using data and evidence to drive change — applying digital tools, health economics and real-world evaluation to identify what works and how to scale it equitably.
The Consortium partners span universities, NHS trusts and community organisations across the UK, reflecting the breadth of expertise needed to deliver a genuine step-change in maternity outcomes.
