ANCHOR-MCH: Advancing New Collaborations in Health Outcomes Research in Maternal and Child Health

Program Goal

The HRSA-funded Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Catalyst program with support from the Dean of the Arnold School of Public Health (ASPH), is offering faculty at the ASPH the opportunity to compete for funding to support MCH-related projects. The goal of ANCHOR-MCH scholarship program is to engage and strengthen the capacity of early- and mid-career faculty in conducting high-quality research and mentoring graduate students with an interest in MCH at ASPH.

Program Description

The ANCHOR-MCH program is designed to cultivate a collaborative and supportive environment that promotes faculty development, interdisciplinary research, and excellence in MCH education and training. Specifically, the program aims to:

  • Build research capacity by providing faculty with the knowledge, mentorship, and resources needed to conduct innovative and impactful MCH research.
  • Enhance training and mentorship of graduate students to prepare a new generation of MCH-informed, skilled, and diverse public health professionals.
  • Foster collaboration among faculty within ASPH and across schools at USC.

By anchoring new collaborations and investing in faculty and student development, ANCHOR-MCH advances the science and practice of maternal and child health while promoting equity and excellence in public health research and education.

Program Details

Each year, two faculty members will be selected to receive $10,000 in funding to hire a graduate student (ANCHOR-MCH trainee) to assist with a proposed MCH research project. Eligible applicants include ASPH faculty (tenure-, research-, clinical-track) at the assistant- or associate professor level who:

  • Currently conduct research focused on MCH populations, or
  • Seek to expand their expertise and research involvement in MCH populations.

Expense requirements

  • The funds are expected to be used to hire a GA to work on the proposed project. Due to funding agency’s policies, the funding for students is limited to US citizens or permanent residents.
  • The funds cannot be used to cover faculty’s salary, travel, or research-related costs
  • Funding must be used between January 2026-December 2026.

Expectations

  • Mentor the selected GA in the proposed project through assistantship.
  • Faculty and trainees are expected to participate in MCH Catalyst program activities such as lunch series, MCHSA, serving as MCH certificate mentors.
  • Engage with senior faculty mentor.

Deliverables:

  • Deliverables vary depending on the funded proposal. Examples are a grant application, a research paper, findings from pilot data collection, any publications and presentations at local and national conferences, any student’s practicum projects, thesis or dissertations.
  • A final report due at the end of the funding period.

Application Instructions

Interested faculty should submit the following materials:

  • Three-page proposal describing the proposed MCH research project that can be completed within one academic year or summer. It should include the objectives, significance of the research, the methodology and/or approach, the research tasks and expected accomplishments, the specific outcomes of the project, the timeline, and the deliverables. Examples of eligible projects include a grant proposal, preliminary data collection, or a secondary data analysis project with a deliverable such as a publication, a systematic review or meta-analysis project.
  • A statement on how the funding will support faculty career development (<1 page, not included in the page limit).
  • A statement outlining mentorship plans for the graduate student trainee and prior mentoring experience (<1 page, not included in the page limit).
  • A current CV or NIH biosketch.
  • Each applicant is required to identify a senior faculty member as a mentor or critical collaborator to provide guidance and ensure effective mentorship or relevant expertise.

Review Criteria

Applications that are complete and responsive to this announcement will be evaluated by a Peer Review Committee. The Committee will provide a prioritized list of recommendations for funding based on the quality of the proposals per the review criteria below. The MCH Catalyst Program will make awards based on the Committee’s recommendations and available funds.

  1. Relevance to Maternal and Child Health (MCH) (Weight: 10%)
  • Does the proposed project clearly align with MCH priorities?
  • Does it address significant issues in MCH, especially as they relate to equity, access, or health outcomes?
  • Is the MCH focus well-articulated and central to the project’s objectives?
  1. Innovation and Impact (Weight: 30%)
  • Is the project original or innovative in its approach to MCH research, training, or collaboration?
  • Will the proposed work advance knowledge or practice in MCH?
  • Are the anticipated outcomes both meaningful and measurable in terms of impact on MCH research or practice?
  1. Mentorship and Student Engagement (Weight: 20%)
  • Does the project include opportunities for meaningful student involvement?
  • Is there a clear and feasible plan for mentoring MCH-interested graduate students?
  • How will the mentorship support students’ skills, knowledge, and professional development in MCH?
  1. Faculty Development and Career Growth (Weight: 15%)
  • How well does the project contribute to the applicant’s scholarly development, especially for early- or mid-career faculty?
  • Does the proposal include a clear plan for enhancing research skills, publication, grant-writing, or leadership?
  • Is there evidence that this project will help build a sustainable research trajectory?
  1. Feasibility and Sustainability (Weight: 10%)
  • Are the project design, methods, and timeline realistic and achievable?
  • Does the budget support the proposed activities appropriately?
  • Is there a plan for sustaining or scaling the project after the funding period?
  1. Clarity and Quality of Proposal (Weight: 10%)
  • Does the proposal clearly state the overall project objectives?
  • Are the proposed methods and approach appropriate and rigorous?
  • Does the proposal include a clear, justified, and appropriate budget aligned with the call?
  • Is the proposal clearly written, well-organized, and free of significant errors?
  1. PI receiving mentorship (Weight: 5%)

Application Deadline: November 28, 2025

Submit Applications to: oancrum@mailbox.sc.edu

Notification of Awards: Around January 3, 2025

Contact:  For questions or additional information, please contact: Dr. Jihong Liu, Professor of Epidemiology, Arnold School of Public Health, USC at jliu@mailbox.sc.edu