Dr. Darling's research focuses on maternal-newborn health services. Areas of interest include midwifery services, health disparities, access to care, organization of care, midwifery scope of practice, health policy, and perinatal surveillance. Her research uses mixed methods. She has particular expertise in conducting large cohort studies using administrative health data, and with the midwifery data collected in Ontario’s perinatal registry (BORN-Ontario). Current projects include evaluation of the Markham-Stouffville Hospital Alongside Midwifery Unit; non-indicated transfers of care from midwives to obstetricians; access to midwifery care and socioeconomic status; outcomes associated with mifepristone implementation; evaluation of the Crown Point Midwifery Project; defining "low risk".