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Stress Management and Response Training for Prenatal Evaluation and Parenting (SMART-PREP)

Award Number: R01MD020419
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CENTER ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2031

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Stress Management and Response Training for Prenatal Evaluation and Parenting (SMART-PREP) - PROJECT SUMMARY A critical gap remains in understanding how structured prenatal education can improve perinatal and child outcomes in regions with limited healthcare access. Current clinical practices often lack integration of physiological risk assessment and behavioral support, particularly in settings facing infrastructure instability or overlapping public health challenges. There is a clear unmet need for scalable models that connect perinatal health with infant developmental outcomes. The objective of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the long-term effects of a virtually delivered prenatal education program focused on self-regulation– Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP)–compared to a standard Lamaze-based program and Usual Care. The study will enroll 300 pregnant individuals receiving prenatal care in Puerto Rico, where healthcare systems frequently face service interruptions. The long-term goal is to identify replicable strategies that can be implemented across healthcare systems experiencing logistical challenges. The central hypothesis is that structured prenatal education improves outcomes for both caregivers and infants by reducing physiological distress and promoting adaptability. This hypothesis is informed by preliminary data and prior research linking stress-related immune disruption and physiological strain to negative perinatal and infant health outcomes. Two specific aims will guide this work: 1) Evaluate the impact of Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) on family adaptability and perinatal health outcomes; 2) Assess the relationship between caregiver prenatal health indicators and early infant health outcomes, including gestational age, birth weight, and early measures of infant functioning. The study will use validated self-report instruments, an allostatic load index, clinical records, and NIH developmental assessment tools to measure physiological and developmental outcomes. The research team brings expertise in psychology, physiology, pediatrics, obstetrics, prenatal education, clinical trial design, statistics, epidemiology, and applied research. Anticipated outcomes include new insights into how prenatal stress management influences perinatal and early childhood health. Key contributions will include evidence supporting virtual delivery of structured education, biological mediation models, and context-sensitive strategies to support caregiver-infant health. Innovations include the integration of biological and behavioral metrics, virtual adaptation of MBCP for low- resource environments, and assessment of family involvement and infant development using standardized NIH tools. Positive findings from this trial will inform future prenatal care approaches and support scalable interventions aimed at improving health outcomes for caregivers and infants across varied healthcare environments.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $776,071 )
2026	2026	PONCE MEDICAL SCHOOL FOUNDATION INC	388 CALLE LUIS F SALA	PONCE	PR	00716	PONCE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	1	9/1/2026	NEW	$751,806
2026	2026	PONCE MEDICAL SCHOOL FOUNDATION INC	388 CALLE LUIS F SALA	PONCE	PR	00716	PONCE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	001	1	9/11/2026	NEW	$24,265
														Subtotal = $776,071

Grand Total All Awards = $776,071

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Stress Management and Response Training for Prenatal Evaluation and Parenting (SMART-PREP)

Award Number: R01MD020419

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CENTER ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2031

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