Research Projects

ELLAS is a study designed to help health care providers better understand reproductive health conditions affecting the Latina/Latinx community. The study is recruiting over 600 Latina/Latinx women across Southeast Michigan from Wayne, Washtenaw, and Oakland counties to learn more about women’s health. ELLAS is being done in partnership with community organizations in Southeast Michigan to design culturally relevant research, disseminate findings, and translate results from the study into better health care practices. 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Erica Marsh

Co-Investigators: Drs. Donna Baird (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences), Lia Bernardi (Northwestern University), Mercedes Carnethon (Northwestern University), and Lisa Neff (Northwestern University)

Funder: National Institutes of Health - National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIH - NIMHD) 

MARCH is a study designed to MARCH — Menstruation and Anemia Research: A Community Health Study — is a community-based research study focused on menstruation and anemia. We work in partnership with organizations who serve communities at higher risk for anemia, in particular Black and Hispanic women.

Principal Investigator: 

Supported By: 

MSHARE is an anonymous survey that collects information on health education, literacy, and access in Southeast Michigan communities. MSHARE will help onWHARD better understand the health research and education priorities of the communities with which we work.  

Principal Investigator: Dr. Erica Marsh

Supported By: University of Michigan Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

PEACE is the result of a five-year center grant, provided by the National Institutes of Health to address one of the most significant disparities in reproductive health: uterine fibroids. The work of PEACE is led by a dynamic team of experts bringing a shared commitment to transforming care for uterine fibroids through community engaged science, to help the more than 70% of women who will be affected over their lifetimes. Our Center is built on a CBPR model, meaning that community voices are central to every piece of our work. The broader team includes physician-scientists, community leaders, and diverse stakeholders — many of whom sit on our Community Stakeholder Advisory Board (CAB). This CAB plays a pivotal role, guiding Our research priorities and informing our outreach efforts.

The PEACE Center is organized around three core areas of research, Disparities in Fibroid Care Pathways, Stress and Resilience in Fibroid Incidence and Growth, and Patient-Centered Health Tools.

Principal Investigators: Dr. Erica Marsh (University of Michigan), a globally recognized expert in reproductive health and community-based participation research (CBPR).

Co-Investigators: Dr. Ganesa Wegienka (Henry Ford Health), is an epidemiologist with deep expertise in uterine fibroids, including incidence and care pathways. & Dr. David Williams (Harvard University) is a global leader in the study of social determinants of health. 

RSRSR is a registry and tissue bank managed by the University of Michigan's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. RSRSR stores biological samples and health information from people receiving care at the University of Michigan. RSRSR includes a biorepository that supports and streamlines interdisciplinary research in the fields of gynecology, transgender medicine, breast disease, and reproductive endocrinology and infertility.  

Principal Investigator: Dr. Erica Marsh

Co-Investigators: Dr. Samantha Schon (University of Michigan) & Dr. Min Xu (University of Michigan)

Supported By: University of Michigan Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

SOAR is a study being conducted in partnership with Henry Ford Health System. SOAR is recruiting participants from the SELF study and looks at ovarian aging in young African American women. SOAR is investigating how health and environmental factors affect ovarian reserve in young African American women as well as exploring a potential association between obesity and ovarian reserve. 

UM Site Principal Investigator: Dr. Erica Marsh

Co-Investigators: Drs. Donna Baird (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences), Lia Bernardi (Northwestern University), Veronica Berrocal (University of Michigan), Mercedes Carnethon (Northwestern University), Sioban Harlow (University of Michigan), Quaker Harmon (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences), Lisa Neff (Northwestern University), Ganesa Wegienka (Henry Ford Health System)

Funder: National Institutes of Health - National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIH - NICHD)

Michigan CEAL: Communities Conquering COVID is a transdisciplinary partnership of researchers and community leaders. Together using a community-based participatory research approach, Michigan CEAL aims to identify and implement effective, community-driven strategies that enhance access and inclusion of marginalized communities in COVID-19 research and prevention to reduce health inequities across the state of Michigan. Michigan CEAL focuses on alleviating the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 among low income and communities of color in Wayne, Genesee, Kent, and Washtenaw Counties. This project is supported by and reflects the goals of the Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities initiative, funded by the National Institutes of Health, to conduct timely community-engaged COVID-19 research and outreach to reduce health inequities.

UM Site Principal Investigators: Dr. Erica Marsh and Dr. Barbara Israel

Funder: National Institutes of Health - National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIH - NIMHD) and National Institutes of Health - National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH - NHLBI). (1 OT2 HL 156812)

Community-Centered Interventions for Improved Vaccine Uptake for COVID (CIVIC) is a federally-funded, five-year R01 grant that aims to reduce vaccine hesitancy by partnering with community and faith-based organizations to develop culturally-tailored interventions based on community-centered approaches in  underrepresented communities.

UM Site Principal Investigators: Dr. Erica Marsh and Dr. Ken Resnicow

Co-Investigators: Dr. Barbara Israel (University of Michigan School of Public Health) and Rev. Charles E. Williams II, MSW (INSIGHT - Institute on National Social Inequities and Gaps in Health and Health Treatment)

Funder: National Institutes of Health (R01MD016867)