The EMPOWER Program is now accepting research proposals related to preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy from young investigators in low resource settings. Letters of Intent are due November 15, 2015. Projects deemed feasible will be invited to submit full applications by April 15, 2016. The grant recipient will be announced in October 2016 at the World Congress of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP).

EMPOWER (EMpowering Progress in Obstetric and Women’s hEalth Research) was established to create partnerships between mentors and single sites or groups within low- and middle- income countries to improve clinical and health services research into hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Funding is available up to $60,000 USD for a two-year research project. The immediate objective will be the completion of a project designed by the local investigator and, when appropriate, the dissemination of the results of the study to change practice and improve care.

A fundamental goal of the program is to build independent capacity for research and effective implementation of research findings. Other objectives include developing an integrated hypertension research team, advancing the knowledge base, and supporting research operational infrastructure.

Preeclampsia, the most dangerous form of pregnancy hypertension, is estimated to contribute to at least 120 maternal and 1,300 fetal or newborn deaths every day throughout the world, primarily in regions such as the Indian subcontinent, Africa, and Latin America. Most of these cases are considered preventable.