College of Public Health

Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy

About the IPHRC

The central mission of the IPHRC is to develop a network of perinatal care providers and public health professionals working to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality through innovative and multidisciplinaryresearch initiatives

We are a team of researchers and clinicians invested in research on exposures in the perinatal period that impact the health of children born in Iowa. Our team includes individuals with expertise in neonatology, developmental and behavioral pediatrics, and epidemiology. Together, we aim to improve the medical, developmental, psychological, and social outcomes of infants born in Iowa and their families with a particular focus on those born preterm or low birth weight.

We will accomplish this by focusing on three areas:

Clinical and Biological Samples

The IPHRC has access to:

  • A neonatal biorepository that has over 6,000 stored samples that can be used for genetic studies of neonatal morbidity.
  • An electronic medical record data warehouse with diagnosis codes, procedure codes, vitals, laboratory results, medications and clinical data on over 25,000 mom-baby pairs where the mother delivered at the UIHC or the newborn was transferred to the UIHC within the first 30 days of life.
  • A prospective study of very preterm newborns that includes longitudinal sampling for metabolic profiling of neonatal morbidity.

Qualitative and Population-Level Data

The IPHRC:

  • Has research agreements with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) to examine birth certificate data, the Iowa Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Survey, and the Iowa Barriers to Prenatal Care Survey to evaluate drivers of and disparities in maternal and neonatal morbidity.
  • Develops primary surveys to disseminate to pregnant and postpartum persons and primary care providers to inform public health campaigns and hospital quality improvement initiatives.
  • Works with the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science’s Engagement, Integration, and Implementation (EII) Core to collect qualitative data regarding pregnant persons experiences with healthcare access and delivery services

Community Partnerships and Training

The IPHRC works with:

  • A Community Advisory Board comprised of more than 10 Iowa mothers who are committed to improving maternal and neonatal outcomes for all birthing persons
  • The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Catalyst Training Program funded by the Health Resources & Services Administration that provides training for graduate students in the foundations of MCH

The IPHRC is a joint venture of: