Maternal Medications and Human Milk Research Center (M2HMRC)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions and organizations conducting maternal and pediatric medication research. Eligible applicants typically include universities, medical centers, research institutes, and 501(c)(3) organizations with research capacity. The Center will focus on how maternal medications affect human milk composition and infant health outcomes. All U.S.-based organizations with relevant research expertise may apply nationally. Projects must involve large-scale, collaborative research with complex structures.
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Key dates
- Sep 15, 2025 Applications open
- Mar 2, 2026 Application deadline
- Dec 1, 2026 Award announced
- Dec 1, 2026 Project start
Program description
The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications to establish a Maternal Medication and Human Milk Research Center (M2HMRC) as part of the NICHD’s Maternal and Pediatric Precision in Therapeutics (MPRINT) Hub. The M2HMRC will advance research on how maternal medications affect human milk composition and neonatal/infant health outcomes by: (1) Identifying critical knowledge gaps in medication use during pregnancy and lactation; (2) Integrating real-world evidence with chemical and bioanalytic data; (3) Developing innovative tools to improve medication safety and efficacy; and (4) Disseminating knowledge around medication use during lactation to a broad audience. The Center will collaborate with MPRINT’s Knowledge and Research Coordinating Center (KRCC) to conduct cutting-edge clinical, translational, and data science research. Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. This NOFO will support cooperative agreements involving large-scale research activities with complex structures.
Grant authorities that allow the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to forecast this opportunity are as follows: Public Health Service Act, Section 301, 448 and 487, as amended, Public Laws 78-410 and 99-158, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 241; 42 U.S.C. 285g; 42 U.S.C. 288; Small Business Research and Development Enhancement Act of 1992, Public Law 102-564, Public Law 118-47.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- County Government
- Hospital
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) when released
- SF-424 (R&R) form
- Project Narrative/Proposal
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Letters of Institutional Commitment
- Letters of Collaboration (for partner institutions)
Program contact
- 👤 Zhaoxia Ren, M.D., Ph.D.
- 📧 zren@mail.nih.gov
- 📞 240-463-5046
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.865 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$1,073,967,938
-
$719,372,575
-
$276,059,721
-
$155,556,396
-
$155,482,198
-
$103,665,364
-
$74,151,078
-
$72,701,366
-
$52,238,426
-
$47,450,377
Top States by Funding
- WA 1 awards $1,074.0M
- NC 7 awards $925.9M
- MD 4 awards $501.6M
- MA 3 awards $190.0M
- PA 3 awards $145.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.865). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,282,226,682 | |
| 2025 | $1,333,391,690 | |
| 2026 est. | $184,920,723 |
FAQ
Who can apply for the M2HMRC grant?
Research institutions, universities, medical centers, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with maternal/pediatric research capacity. Your organization should have expertise in clinical, translational, or data science research related to maternal medications.
What is the deadline and funding level?
The deadline is March 2, 2026. The total funding pool is $2.5 million, though individual award amounts are not yet specified.
What types of activities does this grant support?
Research on medication safety during pregnancy and lactation, identifying knowledge gaps, integrating real-world evidence, developing innovative tools, and disseminating findings. This is collaborative research requiring coordination with NICHD's KRCC.
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes, this is a highly competitive cooperative agreement program. Strong applications demonstrate significant research capacity, relevant expertise, and strong institutional partnerships. Collaboration with MPRINT's Knowledge and Research Coordinating Center is essential.
When will applications be accepted?
Applications are not being solicited at this time. NICHD is providing advance notice to allow organizations to develop collaborations and prepare proposals. Watch the NIH funding portal for the formal Notice of Funding Opportunity release.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start building partnerships now with maternal health researchers, pharmacists, neonatologists, and data scientists to strengthen your application team.
- Align your research focus with the four key Center objectives: identifying knowledge gaps, integrating real-world data, developing tools, and disseminating findings broadly.
- Demonstrate your organization's capacity for large-scale, complex research infrastructure and collaborative management.
- Plan for strong coordination with NICHD's Knowledge and Research Coordinating Center; explain how you'll integrate with their work.
- Document your track record in maternal, pediatric, or pharmacology research; highlight relevant preliminary data and published expertise.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without established partnerships or collaboration infrastructure; NICHD expects large-scale cooperative research. Focusing only on basic science without addressing real-world evidence integration; the Center must bridge research and clinical practice. Underestimating the dissemination and knowledge-sharing component; this is a core requirement, not secondary.
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