Federal Grant Award Summary

Boston University (Trustees of Boston University, doing business as Boston University Medical Campus) received a $651,829 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837). The award, effective May 1, 2026 through January 31, 2031, supports research examining postpartum hypertension and its role in recurrent hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). The project will construct a longitudinal, medical-record-based cohort at Boston Medical Center, a safety-net hospital where approximately 30% of obstetric patients experience hypertension and over 90% return for care within one year post-delivery, enabling comprehensive investigation of the relationship between postpartum blood pressure control and subsequent HDP recurrence.

The research will evaluate modifiable intermediates—including timely capture and management of postpartum hypertension and cardioprotective behaviors such as breastfeeding—as potential pathways to mitigate HDP recurrence. This work addresses a significant public health need, as hypertensive disorders affect more than 10% of U.S. pregnancies and are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. By leveraging the postpartum period as an upstream intervention opportunity, the project aims to generate evidence supporting prevention strategies for recurrent HDP that could improve long-term maternal cardiovascular outcomes and inform clinical practice guidelines.