The FIRST program aims to expand the scientific knowledge on how to improve the health of mothers and children.
We give grants for two types of FIRST programs:
- Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Field-Initiated Research Studies (known as MCH FIRST)
- Autism Field-Initiated Research Studies (known as Autism FIRST)
Awards
MCH FIRST
We funded four awards under this program during fiscal years 2023 and 2024 (FY23 and FY24). Each award is about $300,000 per year and lasts for 3 years.
| 2024 Awardee Organization | City | State | Project period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore | MD | 2024 to 2027 |
| Regents of the University of Michigan | Ann Arbor | MI | 2024 to 2027 |
| 2023 Awardee Organization | City | State | Project period |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc. | Lawrence | KS | 2023 to 2026 |
| The Regents of the University of California | Berkeley | CA | 2023 to 2026 |
Read the 2023 closed Notice of Funding Opportunity (HRSA-23-067).
Autism FIRST
We funded one award under this program during FY24. The award is about $300,000 per year and lasts for 3 years.
| 2024 Awardee organization | City | State | Project period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon State University | Corvallis | OR | 2024 to 2027 |
Read the 2024 closed Notice of Funding Opportunity (HRSA-24-048)
| 2021 Awardee organization | City | State | Project period |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles | CA | 2021 to 2024 |
| Medical School of the University of South Carolina | Charleston | SC | 2021 to 2024 |
| Regents of the University of Minnesota | Minneapolis | MN | 2021 to 2024 |
Our reach
The research studies cover the whole country. The findings are shared widely. The goal is to improve public health systems at the community, state, and national levels.
How the FIRST Program works
Both MCH FIRST and Autism FIRST fund research that collects new data and tests new intervention strategies.
The funding often goes to universities. The studies should respond to either:
- The MCHB Strategic Plan (PDF - 590 KB) goals and objectives
- The Title V MCH Services Block Grant performance measures
- Healthy People 2030 goals
The research often focuses on underserved groups. This includes low-income families, racial and ethnic minorities, people living in rural areas, and children with special health care needs.
This research program aims to use the findings in clinical, health, and social service settings. Awardees share their findings through publications and conferences.
The goal is to use research to make better policies, practices, and decisions about resources to improve the health of mothers and children.
More information
Engaging Research Innovations and Challenges (EnRICH) webinars
Our EnRICH webinar series happens about four times a year. They give researchers and practitioners a chance to share new solutions to current challenges in applied and translational maternal and child health research and practice. Each event features one or more experts in the field.
News & events
Stay up to date with the MCHB Division of Research. Sign up for the MCH Research listserv for alerts about grants, research, partnerships, and EnRICH webinars.
Jobs
Find open positions with HRSA.
Contact us
Need more information, or have a specific question? Contact Emmie Perchak at EPerchak@hrsa.gov