Dr. Gerald Cochran Awarded CDC Grant to Improve Maternal Health
Dr. Gerald Cochran Awarded CDC Grant to Improve Maternal Health
Nov 12, 2025
Gerald Cochran, MSW, PhD, Professor in the Division of Epidemiology, has received a notice of Award for a new five-year U01 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This landmark project represents the first large-scale initiative to emerge from the Health Research and Evaluation for Communities (HREC) section and Department of Internal Medicine Workgroup, marking a significant milestone in collaborative, community-focused research.
In partnership with Utah Medicaid programs, the study will serve pregnant people experiencing opioid and methamphetamine use disorders, addressing one of the most pressing public health challenges in the United States. Pregnant individuals continue to bear disproportionate burdens related to the overdose epidemic, including a dramatic rise in births complicated by opioid use disorder (OUD) and co-occurring health and social challenges.
Dr. Cochran and his research team will enhance and evaluate a patient navigation (PN) model—an evidence-based approach shown to improve treatment adherence, reduce illicit drug use, and prevent overdose. The study will expand the PN model to include contingency management, a proven intervention for stimulant use disorder (StUD), thereby strengthening support for pregnant persons with OUD and StUD.
Through close collaboration with Medicaid leaders, health professionals, and community members with lived experience, the research will develop a comprehensive implementation guide designed to inform future real-world adoption of patient navigation strategies within Medicaid programs in Utah and beyond.
The study’s findings are expected to advance effective, scalable care models for pregnant people with substance use disorders and contribute to improved maternal and infant health outcomes.