UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative
The UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative is a non-profit research initiative founded in 2015 at UCSF that conducts community-grounded studies and programs to eliminate racial disparities in preterm birth for Black and Latine birthing people across Fresno, Oakland, and San Francisco.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative does
The UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative (PTBi-CA) is a non-profit, university-based research initiative founded in 2015 at the University of California, San Francisco, with approximately 16 employees operating from the UCSF Mission Bay campus. Its mission is to eliminate racial disparities in preterm birth and improve health outcomes for babies born too soon, with a particular focus on Black and Latine communities in California's Fresno, Oakland, and San Francisco geographies. The initiative runs a portfolio of interconnected research programs rather than a unified commercial product, including the EMBRACE comparative effectiveness study (674+ enrolled participants in Fresno), the Glow! group prenatal care demonstration model, the recently launched CHEER oral health study with NYU and Colgate, and validated measurement instruments such as the Person-Centered Prenatal Care Scale. PTBi also developed the Periviable GOALS decision support tool for shared decision-making around resuscitation at 22-25 weeks gestation.
PTBi operates a community-led research model that engages Community Advisory Boards, the Benioff Community Innovators, and partner community-based organizations such as BLACK Wellness and Prosperity Center, Expecting Justice, and First 5 Fresno County. Its funding model is grant-driven rather than revenue-generating: it has received a $5.6 million PCORI award for EMBRACE in 2019, Colgate funding for CHEER, Health Net seed funding for the California Coalition for Black Birth Justice, and ongoing UCSF institutional support. The initiative has a sister program—the East Africa Preterm Birth Initiative—enabling joint annual symposia and cross-regional research collaboration. All services are provided at no cost to participants.
Distribution and dissemination occur through peer-reviewed publications, monthly Collaboratories with CME credit, an annual symposium (rotating between California and East Africa), and digital channels including Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube under the 'Voices for Birth Justice' brand. The Center for Birth Justice, a co-led related initiative, manages a Constant Contact newsletter and coalition advocacy work. Recent operational notes show the Community Advisory Board was sunset in 2022 after seven years, and a new Executive Director was announced in July 2024, suggesting an ongoing organizational transition while research output continues.
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative
- Legal name
- The Regents of the University of California
- Website
- https://pretermbirthca.ucsf.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative is a non-profit research initiative founded in 2015 at UCSF that conducts community-grounded studies and programs to eliminate racial disparities in preterm birth for Black and Latine birthing people across Fresno, Oakland, and San Francisco.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Maternal Health Research
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early Childhood & Child Development Policy Research (EDADADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Early Childhood Development (ECD) & Pre-Primary Education (BPADAKAB), Preterm/NICU-Transition Newborn Care (NCS) (HSAAACAF), Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG), Mental Health & Infant/Early Childhood Consultation (0–5) (EDACAFAO)
Keywords
Where UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Grant Funding: Primary funding comes from research grants including PCORI funding ($5.6M for EMBRACE study), Colgate-funded studies, and institutional support from UCSF and partner organizations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative (PTBi-CA) is a multi-year research enterprise at the University of California, San Francisco that conducts comparative effectiveness, intervention, policy, and community-engaged research to eliminate racial disparities in preterm birth and improve outcomes for babies born too soon. Its core deliverables include the EMBRACE comparative effectiveness study, the Glow! group prenatal care program, the CHEER oral health study, the Periviable GOALS shared decision support tool, validated person-centered prenatal care measurement scales, and the Benioff Community Innovators community partnership program.
Product overview
The UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative is a multi-year research enterprise focused on eliminating racial disparities in preterm birth and improving health outcomes for babies born too soon. Rather than a unified software product, PTBi operates as a portfolio of interconnected research programs, studies, and community engagement initiatives. The core research infrastructure includes the EMBRACE Study comparing prenatal care models, the Glow! group prenatal care program, and the Periviable GOALS decision support tool. These are complemented by measurement instruments like the Person-Centered Prenatal Care Scale, community programs such as the Benioff Community Innovators, and educational resources including the Voices for Birth Justice video series and monthly Collaboratories. The initiative spans discovery research, intervention research, policy research, and collective impact work across California communities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- EMBRACE Study (Engaging Mothers and Babies—Reimagining Antenatal Care for Everyone)
- Glow! Group Prenatal Care and Support
- Periviable GOALS Decision Support Tool
Quantifiable outcome
- 72% Latine, 28% born in Latin America participation in EMBRACE study
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- First 5 Fresno CountycoreFirst 5 Fresno County partnered with PTBi to implement and fund the Glow! group prenatal care program, originally incubated through the Fresno PTBi collective impact effort. The organization continues as a key implementation partner for prenatal interventions.
- Central Valley Health Policy Institute at CSU FresnocoreResearch partner conducting comparative effectiveness studies alongside UCSF, including the EMBRACE study. The institute brings local expertise and community connections in Fresno County to the research collaboration.
- New York University (NYU)majorNYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and Grossman School of Medicine partnered with UCSF researchers on the CHEER study, bringing together investigators from multiple institutions to examine oral health and preterm birth.
- International Healthy Outcomes of Pregnancy for Everyone (HOPE) Research ConsortiumminorHOPE Consortium is a partner in the CHEER study, bringing international researchers focused on uncovering causes of adverse pregnancy outcomes and identifying interventions.
- BLACK Wellness and Prosperity CentermajorCommunity partner led by Shantay Davies-Balch conducting evaluation of adapted fatherhood curriculum to strengthen paternal involvement during pregnancy among Black men in Fresno, CA.
- UCSF Bixby Center for Global Reproductive HealthmajorResearch partner providing investigators including Dr. Patience Afulani for patient-centered maternity care studies and Dr. Sarah Roberts for drug and pregnancy policy research.
- California Coalition for Black Birth JusticemajorCo-led in partnership with PTBi, this coalition developed the California Black Birth Justice Agenda with seed funding from Health Net. Fiscally sponsored by Public Health Institute. Represents first-of-its-kind coalition in California.
- Public Health InstituteminorServes as fiscal sponsor for the California Coalition for Black Birth Justice, providing administrative and organizational support.
- California Black Birth Equity Summit (CBBES)majorCollaborating organization led by Mashariki Kudumu, hosting birth equity events and webinars including Birth Equity Advocacy 101, with ongoing partnership with Center for Birth Justice.
- Center for Birth JusticecorePartner organization co-leading California Coalition for Black Birth Justice with PTBi. Hosts newsletter archives and collaborative events including Birth Equity Advocacy webinars.
- UCSF Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy StudiesmajorResearch partner providing Dr. Sarah Garrett for the MEND study on implicit bias training and antiracism in maternal health.
- UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive SciencesmajorAcademic department providing faculty investigators including Dr. Larry Rand for preterm birth research and Principal Investigator leadership.
- Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care (IPFCC)minorPartner in COVID-19 hospital restrictions survey, collaborating on data collection about changes to policies and patient-family engagement during the pandemic.
- UCSF School of Nursing Department of Family Health Care NursingminorAcademic partner collaborating on COVID-19 hospital restrictions survey research.
- University of Washington School of NursingminorAcademic research partner in COVID-19 hospital restrictions survey project.
- PRIORITY Study (Pregnancy Coronavirus Outcomes Registry)minorCOVID-19 pregnancy research study collaborating on shared learnings about pandemic impacts on pregnancy and preterm birth.
- SACRED Birth StudyminorStudy on birth experiences during COVID-19, part of collaborative research effort sharing insights on pandemic impacts.
- HOPE COVID-19 StudyminorCOVID-19 and pregnancy outcomes research study led by Dr. Laura Jelliffe-Pawlowski examining pandemic-related hardship impacts.
- East Africa Preterm Birth InitiativecoreSister initiative at UCSF working on preterm birth in East Africa (Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda). PTBi-CA collaborates with this initiative, including joint annual symposia held in both regions.
- SisterWeb Community Doula ProgramminorSan Francisco doula program announced at City Hall in 2018, addressing birth equity through community-based doula support.
- Benioff Community InnovatorsmajorProgram of women from community-based organizations working with pregnant mothers facing housing insecurity in San Francisco, representing authentic community partnership model.
- Expecting JusticemajorSan Francisco collective impact partner leading the Abundant Birth Project providing $1,000/month cash supplements to Black and Pacific Islander pregnant persons.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Expecting Justice: Expecting Justice is a San Francisco collective impact initiative focused on birth equity and Black maternal health, including the Abundant Birth Project cash supplement program. It is a direct peer and core implementation partner of PTBi, sharing the same birth equity goals in California.
- Every Mother Counts: Every Mother Counts is a nonprofit founded by Christy Turlington Burns that invests in maternal health programs, research, and advocacy globally. It is a direct peer in the maternal health equity and community-based intervention space, with similar grant-making and program-evaluation activities.
- Black Mamas Matter Alliance: Black Mamas Matter Alliance is a national network advancing Black maternal health through research, policy, and care transformation. Its research-and-advocacy model and focus on Black maternal health outcomes closely parallel PTBi's community-led research and birth justice agenda.
- National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC): NBEC is a national nonprofit focused explicitly on eliminating Black maternal and infant health disparities through research, advocacy, and community-based programs. It is a direct peer in PTBi's specific niche of birth equity research and community-centered intervention design.
Broad incumbents
- ZERO TO THREE: ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit focused on early childhood development from birth to age three, with a policy research and advocacy function. It is a broad incumbent in early childhood health and policy research, overlapping with PTBi's prenatal and preterm birth research that bridges to early childhood outcomes.
- March of Dimes: March of Dimes is the largest U.S. nonprofit dedicated to maternal and infant health, funding research and running programs to reduce preterm birth. It is a broad incumbent that operates nationally and overlaps with PTBi's mission to eliminate preterm birth disparities, though it is much larger and more established.
- UCSF Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health: The Bixby Center is a UCSF research center conducting research and training on reproductive health, including patient-centered maternity care. It is a close institutional peer and active partner (provides investigators to PTBi), operating in the same university with overlapping maternal health research.
Emerging players
- Pregnancy Coronavirus Outcomes Registry (PRIORITY): PRIORITY is a UCSF-affiliated COVID-19 pregnancy outcomes registry that collaborated with PTBi during the pandemic. It is an emerging peer in pregnancy outcomes research and shares the UCSF affiliation and overlapping investigator base.
- Healthy Start EPIC Center: Healthy Start EPIC Center provides training, technical assistance, and resources for Healthy Start grantees focused on reducing infant mortality and improving maternal health in high-risk communities. It is an emerging peer in the federal maternal-child health program space where PTBi's community-grounded models could be deployed.
- International HOPE Research Consortium: HOPE is an international research consortium uncovering causes of adverse pregnancy outcomes and identifying interventions. It is an emerging peer and active partner of PTBi via the CHEER study, with comparable scientific focus on preterm birth etiology.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative social profiles
Digital presenceUCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative
What does UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative do?
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative (PTBi-CA) is a multi-year research enterprise at the University of California, San Francisco that conducts comparative effectiveness, intervention, policy, and community-engaged research to eliminate racial disparities in preterm birth and improve outcomes for babies born too soon. Its core deliverables include the EMBRACE comparative effectiveness study, the Glow! group prenatal care program, the CHEER oral health study, the Periviable GOALS shared decision support tool, validated person-centered prenatal care measurement scales, and the Benioff Community Innovators community partnership program.
Is UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative a public or private company?
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative founded?
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative based?
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative make money?
One revenue line is on record: grant Funding.
Who are UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Expecting Justice, Every Mother Counts, Black Mamas Matter Alliance and National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC). Broad incumbents are ZERO TO THREE, March of Dimes and UCSF Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health. Emerging players are Pregnancy Coronavirus Outcomes Registry (PRIORITY), Healthy Start EPIC Center and International HOPE Research Consortium.
Does UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative have an API?
No public API is recorded for UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative.
What industry is UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative in?
UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative's product category is Maternal Health Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADADAJ, Early Childhood & Child Development Policy Research, with a secondary code of BPADAKAB, Early Childhood Development (ECD) & Pre-Primary Education. Its NAICS code is 54172 and its SIC code is 8300.