Dr. Dilys Walker leads the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Research Cooperative in the Institute for Health Sciences at the University of California San Francisco. Our team is dedicated to improving the quality of care for mothers, newborns and children in developing countries. 

We believe it is possible to end preventable maternal and neonatal mortality and to do this; we must work with women and strengthen the health systems that serve them across their reproductive life from preconception, to pregnancy, the intrapartum and postnatal periods. 

Our portfolio of projects includes testing new interventions, implementing innovative approaches to increase the use of evidence-based practices, evaluating impact and processes, and influencing national polices that will improve the health and well-being of mothers and babies in low resource settings. 

A critical component to our success is the strong partnerships and collaborations we have developed around the globe. We bring together a broad set of stakeholders, including our philanthropic funders, government agencies, implementers, community organizations, and academic researchers, to develop a shared goal and vision. With the goal of transitioning programs to local ownership, we are committed to strengthening the skills and expertise of the research and provider teams, as well as the next generation of transdisciplinary leaders in our network. 

Our current portfolio includes key collaborators and funders in countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa, India and Latin America. Our largest presence is in East Africa, where we have developed long-term and robust partnerships with academic and government institutions through our collaboration on the Preterm Birth Initiative.