Active Research Grants- $767,120*
Local Community Grant- $535,000
NICU Family Support Program-$55,267
Educational Programs and Collaborative Projects-$158,179
Perinatal Quality Improvement Initiative-$2,000
Advocacy Initiatives-$7,750
TOTAL DOLLARS INVESTED IN MISSION PROGRAMS IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN 2009: $1,525,316

• All research grant dollars reflect investment active in 2009, which may overlap multiple calendar years.   All other investments are strictly for 2009.

The entire March of Dimes research portfolio active in 2009 nationally and internationally totals $99,387,820

2009 National Research Grants in South Carolina

Clemson University
Children’s Research Institute
Xuejun Wen, MD, PhD
Department of Bioengineering, Cell Biology & Anatomy To develop and test the efficacy of a new generation of cochlear implants, electronic hearing devices that are surgically implanted in the inner ear to help restore hearing in some individuals with serious hearing impairment. $295,185

Medical University  of South Carolina
Laura Goetzl, MD, MPH
Department of OB/GYN 
Prevent CP, which occurs in about 1 in 1,000 full-term births.  $212,405

Medical University of South Carolina
Tain-Yen Hsia, MD, MSc
Department of Surgery 
Prevent post-surgical complications and deaths in babies with heart defects. $150,000

Medical University of South Carolina
Lakshmi D. Katikaneni, MD
Department of Neonatology 
To study brain damage resulting from chorioamnionitis (intrauterine infection) by  using new neuroimagining techniques. $145,530

2009 South Carolina Local Community Grants

Acercamiento Hispano de Carolina del Sur/ SC Hispanic Outreach "Latina Woman-Healthy Baby" seeks to provide enhanced prenatal care education in Spanish to Latino women in Saluda County. Program will use the Comenzando bien curriculum which validates participants’ knowledge, traditions, culture and belief system and integrates them with medically sound prenatal practices. Approximately 100 expectant moms will participate in prenatal education classes and additional 300 women of childbearing age will be reached with preconception or interconception health education. $35,000

AnMed Hospital “9Matters” seeks to bring education and tools for health to teens after school in community centers, high schools and one physician’s office.  This project will work with members of the obstetric medical community and school staff and facility requesting referral of eligible teens. Educational sessions, targeting 180 teens, will focus on increasing the knowledge of the pregnant teen on signs and symptoms of preterm labor, increasing safe sleep knowledge, decreasing risk-taking behaviors, and thereby decreasing the incidence of preterm deliveries among teens. $28,000

Coastal Plain Rural Health Network Working Together for Healthy Babies will reach 550 Hispanic and African American women with prenatal classes in English and Spanish to promote healthy birth outcomes.  Prenatal care curriculums to be used are Comenzando bien, a Spanish prenatal care curriculum, and Healthy Pregnancy Project designed to increased perinatal knowledge of the participants during pregnancy. Project will partner with Marion County Medical Center, Black River Healthcare Obstetrical Clinic, McLeod Dillion and Purdue Farms, Inc to offer support services and enhanced education throughout the Pee Dee Region of South Carolina. $58,298

Greenville Hospital System Project proposes to provide CenteringPregnancy®, a group model of prenatal care. This group model will be used to decrease poor outcomes in these populations by providing support, education and socialization in order to empower these women to participate in their own prenatal care. Project will reach 180 expectant moms. $64,647
Medical University of South Carolina Progesterone Outreach Program (POP) seeks to educate obstetrical providers in the Low Country Region on the appropriate administration of 17- a hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P) to women with a history of spontaneous preterm birth through consistent educational outreach.  POP will directly serve approximately 120 Regional obstetrical providers with education. $57,389

South Carolina Chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. "African American Prematurity Outreach Education and Awareness Campaign" focused on reducing the disparity of premature births in African Americans by providing education to males around the state.  Alpha Phi Alpha will hosts events targeting over 100 African American health agencies, community leaders, healthcare providers, and other community stakeholders including elected officials. Through these partnerships, Alphi Phi Alpha will reach over 1,000 African Americans with information, education and awareness-building activities focused on prematurity. “Project Alpha” serves to increase male involvement prior, during and after pregnancy, conveying the message that “Men have babies, too.”   $20,000

South Carolina Chapters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Zetas will reach women of childbearing age through educational forums. Individuals are reached through community groups, clubs and mall booths. In honor of November, Zeta will host Prematurity Awareness Sunday where information is provided for church congregations around the state. Currently, more than 20 nest are operating are the state. This project will expand to add one new Stork’s nest location and would work towards re-activating one inactive locations.  The Stork's Nest program expected to serve 700 women of child-bearing age. $23,150

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control This project “A Roadmap to Preconception Healthcare,” will target healthcare providers in Region 1 to promote preconception education.  Best practice trainings will be developed, implemented and evaluated through train the trainer sessions, customized tool kits, and community collaborations.  Approximately 100 providers will be served through this project in Anderson, Oconee, Laurens, Abbeville, Greenwood, McCormick, Saluda and Edgefield counties.    $33,851

South Carolina Perinatal Association SCPA will reach 500 health care professionals to enhance educational and support services to high-risk pregnant women by providing affordable quality education aimed at improving perinatal care and outcomes in SC. This will be accomplished through their annual conference  both pre-conference workshops and Conference sessions on current perinatal issues; and through educational Cafes, two of which will offer continuing education credits.   $10,000

The Nurturing Center Through support, curriculum, relationship building and resource development, The Nurturing Center will offer services program designed to enhance preconception and prenatal education for high risk population. Project will serve 60 pregnant and parenting teen mothers, predominately African Americans, during the grant period. $18,685
Together For Beaufort "Adequacy of Prenatal Care Coalition" "Las Promotoras" seeks to provide Comenzando bien classes, prevention education in hospitals, communities and schools, and individual interventions for expectant Latinas in Beaufort County.  Project will reach approximately 500 individuals with culturally sensitive interventions to improve perinatal health. $50,700

TOTAL DOLLARS INVESTED IN MISSION PROGRAMS IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN 2009: $1,525,316

Please contact Megan McKenzie, State Director of Program Services at mmckenzie@marchofdimes.com if you have any questions.   Thank you!