Condition

Preterm clinical trials and research

• 23Clinical trials
• 279NIH research projects
• 1New in 30 days
• 14Countries

Newest Preterm clinical trials

All recruiting trials (23)

• Premature infants: trying PIOMI with mom to support feeding

  Aims to see if PIOMI done with a mother’s presence and voice helps preterm babies feed better and feel more connected to mom.

  Recruiting Ataturk University · Erzurum, Aziziye · NCT07894380

• SAFE early intervention for high-risk infants to support arm function

  This randomized trial tests whether the SAFE early intervention helps improve upper limb function and early development in high-risk infants aged 3–12 months compared with standard Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT).

  Recruiting Gazi University · Ankara, Ankara · NCT07596147

• PIMUN to reduce low-oxygen episodes in preterm infants

  We will test whether PIMUN, a soft garment that gives gentle pulsatile dorsal stimulation, can reduce low-oxygen (SpO2 <90%) episodes in preterm infants born at 24–34 weeks who have apnea of prematurity.

  Recruiting Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile · Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan and 1 other locations · NCT07396103

• Cerclage plus progesterone versus progesterone alone for twins with a short cervix

  This will test whether adding a cervical stitch (cerclage) to progesterone helps prevent early birth in people carrying twins who have a short cervix (≤30 mm).

  Recruiting National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology · Bac Ninh and 5 other locations · NCT07372495

• Helping preterm babies learn to feed using scheduled pacifier use

  This study tests whether giving preterm babies a 5-minute pacifier before each feeding versus a 30-minute pacifier at random times helps them develop feeding skills faster and leave the hospital sooner.

  Recruiting Acibadem University · Istanbul, Ataşehir · NCT07273266

• Early physiotherapy to improve motor optimality in at-risk infants

  This trial will test whether starting a targeted physiotherapy program early improves motor movement scores in infants born preterm or who had serious neonatal complications.

  Recruiting Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University · Kahramanmaraş, Onikişubet · NCT07201805

• Household, wellbeing, and quality-of-life impacts of very preterm birth and necrotising enterocolitis

  This project will collect information to see if pausing or continuing milk feeds around blood transfusions relates to babies' quality of life and the financial and emotional impact on families of very preterm infants, especially those with NEC.

  Recruiting at 7 sites Imperial College London · Norwich, Norfolk and 6 other locations · NCT07192393

• Nationwide survey of small and vulnerable newborns

  This project will see how common and how severe problems are for newborns who are preterm, small for gestational age, or low birth weight across participating hospitals in China.

  Recruiting Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine · Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · NCT07143825

• Precision dosing of oral ibuprofen to close PDA in very preterm newborns

  This study will test whether adjusting oral ibuprofen doses for each very preterm baby using blood levels and echocardiograms helps close a patent ductus arteriosus more often than the standard fixed dose.

  Recruiting Phase 2 Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation · Hamilton, Ontario · NCT07143201

• Bambi Belt heart and breathing monitoring for extremely preterm babies

  This project will try using a wireless Bambi Belt to monitor heart rate and breathing in extremely preterm infants under 26 weeks during their first ten days of life.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Maxima Medical Center · Amsterdam and 1 other locations · NCT07061366

• Tracking intellectual and motor development in babies at high risk for cerebral palsy

  This project will follow babies at higher risk for cerebral palsy to see if early thinking and movement signs predict later intellectual and motor outcomes.

  Recruiting at 3 sites University College Cork · Cork and 3 other locations · NCT06857539

• Using surgical drapes to secure endotracheal tubes in preterm infants

  This study is testing if using surgical drapes to hold endotracheal tubes in place can help preterm infants avoid accidental tube removal and skin damage compared to regular methods.

  Recruiting Hasan Kalyoncu University · Batman · NCT06832553

• Analyzing proteins and peptides in human milk across different breastfeeding stages

  This study looks at the proteins in breast milk at different stages of breastfeeding to see how they help newborns, especially those who are born early or are smaller in size.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Maimónides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba · Córdoba, Córdoba and 1 other locations · NCT06787963

• Intervention for parents of very preterm children to improve behavior

  This study is testing two different parenting programs to see if they can help parents of very preterm children improve their parenting skills and reduce behavior problems in their kids.

  Recruiting Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati · Cincinnati, Ohio · NCT06767293

• Investigating parent-infant interactions in preterm infants

  This study looks at how parents and their preterm babies interact in the NICU to see if these connections can help reduce stress and support the babies' growth and development.

  Recruiting Linkoeping University · Linköping · NCT06753435

• New ultrasound technology for monitoring brain blood flow in sick newborns

  This study is testing a new ultrasound technology to see if it can help monitor blood flow in the brains of sick newborns and preterm infants.

  Recruiting St. Olavs Hospital · Trondheim · NCT06646250

• Evaluating non-invasive ventilation methods for preterm infants with respiratory distress

  This study is testing different breathing support methods for premature babies with breathing problems to see which one helps them the best.

  Recruiting Alexandria University · Alexandria · NCT06550219

• Comparing umbilical cord milking and early cord clamping for preterm infants

  This study is testing if milking the umbilical cord instead of clamping it right away can help save the lives of preterm babies born between 30 and 34 weeks who need immediate care.

  Recruiting at 3 sites Nemours Children's Clinic · Belagavi, Karnataka and 8 other locations · NCT06240715

• Effect of Touch on Pain in Preterm Infants During Procedures

  This study tests if using different gentle touch methods can help reduce pain for preterm infants during a medical procedure called endotracheal aspiration.

  Recruiting Acibadem University · Istanbul, Ataşehir · NCT05784857

• Exploring arginine supplementation for immune response in postoperative infants

  This study is testing if giving arginine supplements can help improve the immune response in infants who have had major bowel surgery or have a serious gut condition.

  Recruiting at 2 sites University of Liverpool · Liverpool, Merseyside and 1 other locations · NCT05306925

• Improving the hospital environment for preterm infants and their parents

  This study is testing a special program to see if it helps preterm infants and their parents feel better and bond more during their time in the NICU compared to regular care.

  Recruiting University of Southern California · St Louis, Missouri · NCT05230199

• Long-term health follow-up of premature infants

  This study is looking at the long-term health of preterm infants to see how their early experiences affect their growth and development over 18 years.

  Recruiting Shanghai Children's Medical Center · Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · NCT05017389

• High-frequency oscillatory ventilation versus conventional mechanical ventilation for very preterm infants with perinatal ARDS

  This trial will test whether high-frequency oscillatory ventilation helps very preterm infants with perinatal ARDS breathe better and reduce lung complications compared with standard mechanical ventilation.

  Recruiting Daping Hospital and the Research Institute of Surgery of the Third Military Medical University · Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality · NCT03736707

NIH-funded research (newest 40 of 279)

Early-stage science funded by the US National Institutes of Health. Most of these projects don't enroll patients, but they show what is being worked on.

• Screening and treatment of Chlamydia infection in pregnancy to help prevent preterm birth

  This grant studies whether screening pregnant people for Chlamydia trachomatis and treating those who are positive can reduce the risk of preterm birth.

  NIH research University of California, San Diego · La Jolla, United States · NIH-11617691

• Preterm infant body composition and early-life health after NICU stay

  This grant studies how body composition in very preterm babies relates to later brain development and risk of obesity or diabetes, with findings meant to improve care from NICU through early childhood.

  NIH research Brigham and Women's Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11600939

• Brain injury risk in preterm babies with heart disease and how surgery choices affect their brains

  This project follows newborns with congenital heart disease born early to understand how their brains are affected and how different surgical approaches might influence outcomes.

  NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11520488

• Xylitol to Prevent Periodontal Disease and Preterm Birth in Pregnancy and Early Childhood

  A safe, inexpensive chewable gum approach using xylitol is tested to help pregnant people reduce gum disease and lower the chance of preterm birth and related child health problems.

  NIH research University of Washington · Seattle, United States · NIH-11478593

• Screening and treatment for Chlamydia infection to help prevent preterm birth

  A study in pregnant people will test whether screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and treating it during pregnancy can reduce the risk of babies being born too early.

  NIH research University of California, San Diego · La Jolla, United States · NIH-11474446

• PREEMIE PROGRESS: a family program to help parents of very preterm babies

  A family-centered program that teaches parents how to care for very preterm infants, offers psychosocial support, and connects families with resources to address social needs.

  NIH research University of Cincinnati · Cincinnati, United States · NIH-11453285

• Darbepoetin Exposure and Lung Health in Preterm Children

  This study follows children who were born very preterm to see if early exposure to darbepoetin affects their lung health and breathing at early school age.

  NIH research University of Alabama at Birmingham · Birmingham, United States · NIH-11453046

• IL-9 Signaling and Immune-Driven Preterm Birth

  This NIH grant supports training a physician-scientist to lead a new lab studying how immune signals, especially IL-9, affect preterm birth.

  NIH research Indiana University Indianapolis · Indianapolis, United States · NIH-11452359

• Adolescent outcomes after very preterm birth using a holistic exposome approach

  This grant aims to understand how a wide range of environmental, biological, and social factors together influence development in kids born very preterm.

  NIH research Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island · Providence, United States · NIH-11446657

• Predicting Preterm Birth with Longitudinal Multi-Omics Data

  A new, patient-friendly approach uses time-aware omics data from pregnancy to better predict preterm birth and uncover underlying biology.

  NIH research Washington University · Saint Louis, United States · NIH-11440408

• Skeletal health after preterm birth in adults

  Researchers will study why people born prematurely have weaker bones and fractures, starting in infancy and following into adulthood.

  NIH research Rush University Medical Center · Chicago, United States · NIH-11427030

• Limited vs Extended Tiny-Feeding in Very Preterm Babies and Their Gut-Brain Connection

  A study in very preterm newborns compares feeding for 1 day versus 3 days to see how early milk feeding affects sepsis risk, gut bacteria, and later brain development.

  NIH research University of Washington · Seattle, United States · NIH-11426875

• Xylitol for Pregnancy Health and Baby Outcomes

  A safe, affordable gum-based treatment using xylitol is being tested to reduce periodontal disease in pregnant people and lower the chance of preterm birth and related child health issues.

  NIH research University of Washington · Seattle, United States · NIH-11416640

• Two volumes of human milk to support growth and gut health in very preterm babies

  A multicenter trial will compare two amounts of human milk given to very preterm infants to see which supports better growth and gut health.

  NIH research University of Alabama at Birmingham · Birmingham, United States · NIH-11416356

• Preschool outcomes after an economic program to boost mother’s milk in very preterm infants

  This project tests whether giving mothers of very preterm babies financial support and services to feed breast milk in the NICU improves children’s development, health, and costs as they reach preschool age.

  NIH research Rush University Medical Center · Chicago, United States · NIH-11415790

• Cervix monitoring tool to predict spontaneous preterm birth

  A new cervical monitoring tool is being studied to help identify women at risk of giving birth prematurely.

  NIH research Advanced Tactile Imaging, INC. · Trenton, United States · NIH-11413722

• Multisensory Early Oral Human Milk for Very Preterm Infants

  A randomized trial tests giving tiny drops of human milk in a multisensory way to very preterm babies starting on day 3 to support stress regulation, brain development, and easier oral feeding.

  NIH research Loyola University Chicago · Maywood, United States · NIH-11413402

• Skincubator: wearable incubator to boost skin-to-skin care for very preterm babies

  A new wearable incubator aims to help extremely preterm babies receive longer, warmer skin-to-skin contact with their caregivers.

  NIH research Skincubator Neocare INC. · Dallas, United States · NIH-11409036

• Zelpultide Alfa to Prevent BPD in High-Risk Preterm Babies

  A clinical trial tests a new therapy called zelpultide alfa to help prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very preterm babies at high risk.

  NIH research Airway Therapeutics, INC. · Atlanta, UNITED STATES · NIH-11407847

• Optimizing caffeine therapy to protect kidneys and brain in preterm babies

  A randomized study tests whether giving caffeine to very premature babies with kidney and brain hypoxia can reduce kidney injury and improve early brain and kidney outcomes.

  NIH research University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, United States · NIH-11400275

• Support for low-income mothers of preterm babies to help with NICU caregiving

  This grant tests whether giving financial support to low-income mothers of preterm infants helps them be more present and engaged with their babies in the NICU and learn caregiving skills.

  NIH research Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · Worcester, United States · NIH-11398156

• Music-based intervention in the NICU to support preterm brain growth and behavior

  A research project at Brigham and Women’s Hospital tests whether music-based experiences for very preterm infants in the NICU can support brain development and later behavior.

  NIH research Brigham and Women's Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11397507

• Autism Risk in Babies Born Earliest (Preterm Birth)

  This project looks at whether being born early (before 37 weeks) changes how autism develops in children, especially compared with babies born on time.

  NIH research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · New York, United States · NIH-11396513

• Neonatal stress in very preterm babies and its links to epigenetics and development

  A study following very preterm infants and their caregivers to understand how early stress and caregiver distress influence childhood development through epigenetic changes.

  NIH research University of Iowa · Iowa City, United States · NIH-11396506

• Predicting outcomes for very preterm babies using AI and multiomics

  A study using machine learning and blood-based biomarkers to forecast survival and major health problems in very preterm infants.

  NIH research Baylor College of Medicine · Houston, United States · NIH-11396480

• Milrinone to Reduce Post-Procedure Instability in Extremely Preterm Infants

  A study tests whether giving milrinone around PDA closure helps extremely preterm babies have steadier heart and breathing status afterward.

  NIH research University of Iowa · Iowa City, United States · NIH-11395604

• How mothers’ milk handling affects gut health peptides in preterm babies

  This project looks at how different ways of handling breast milk for preterm babies changes the small gut peptides and their effects.

  NIH research Oregon State University · Corvallis, United States · NIH-11395480

• Volatile Organic Compounds and Preterm Birth in Detroit

  A large study will follow about 1,100 pregnant women in Detroit to see if exposure to common air pollutants is linked to starting birth earlier than expected in this city.

  NIH research Wayne State University · Detroit, United States · NIH-11394824

• Non-Invasive Dysphagia Detection for Preterm Infants

  A new non-invasive tool analyzes a premature baby’s bottle feeding behavior to detect swallowing difficulties early.

  NIH research Nuborn Medical, INC. · Eden Prairie, UNITED STATES · NIH-11392556

• Vaginal Microbiome and Social Factors in Preterm Birth among Hawaiʻi Women

  A study in Hawaiʻi women looks at how the vaginal microbiome and social factors relate to the risk of delivering a baby early.

  NIH research University of Hawaii at Manoa · Honolulu, United States · NIH-11392491

• Environmental influences on early development and child health in preterm kids

  A large, long-term study follows extremely preterm children to understand how social and biological exposures before conception through early adulthood affect their development and health.

  NIH research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, United States · NIH-11391314

• How pollution near Superfund sites may change the placenta and lead to early birth

  This research looks at whether pollution from nearby Superfund sites changes the placenta's genes and microbes in pregnant people and raises the risk of preterm birth.

  NIH research Baylor College of Medicine · Houston, United States · NIH-11388576

• Detecting and cleaning pollution linked to preterm birth, infant lung disease, and developmental problems

  This project searches for tiny pollution chemicals called PAHs near Superfund sites, looks at how they affect pregnant people and newborns, and tries ways to clean contaminated soil to protect babies.

  NIH research Baylor College of Medicine · Houston, United States · NIH-11388571

• Screening and treatment for Chlamydia to help prevent preterm birth

  This project tests whether screening pregnant people for Chlamydia trachomatis and treating those who test positive can reduce preterm births.

  NIH research University of California, San Diego · La Jolla, United States · NIH-11386493

• Milrinone to Prevent Post-Operative Heart-Surgery Problems in Extremely Preterm Babies

  A randomized trial will test whether giving milrinone to extremely premature babies helps prevent serious heart and lung problems after surgical closure of a patent ductus arteriosus.

  NIH research Research Triangle Institute · Research Triangle Park, United States · NIH-11385461

• 3-D bioprinted feto-maternal tissue model to test pregnancy drugs

  A high-throughput 3D tissue model of the feto-maternal interface is being built to screen drugs for safety and effectiveness in pregnancy.

  NIH research University of Texas Med Br Galveston · Galveston, United States · NIH-11382114

• New drug ideas to prevent infection-related preterm birth

  A focused program at Vanderbilt aims to train an independent researcher to develop and test new drug approaches to prevent preterm labor caused by infection or inflammation.

  NIH research Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Nashville, United States · NIH-11380891

• Fully Quantitative Cervical Elastography to Predict Preterm Birth in First-Time Expectant Mothers

  A new ultrasound method measures cervical stiffness in first-time pregnant women to help predict who might have a preterm birth.

  NIH research University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, United States · NIH-11379992

• How HIV affects vaginal viruses and preterm birth risk in pregnant South African women

  This project looks at whether HIV changes the mix of viruses in the vagina and whether those changes are linked to earlier births among pregnant women in South Africa.

  NIH research Seattle Children's Hospital · Seattle, United States · NIH-11379712

• Long-term brain imaging and thinking skills in people born very premature

  A long-term study follows people born very preterm to see how their brain structure and thinking skills change from birth through early adulthood.

  NIH research Children's Hospital of Orange County · Orange, United States · NIH-11378747

Related topics

Quick answers

How many Preterm clinical trials are recruiting right now?

23, as of November 12, 2026. 1 of them was first registered in the last 30 days. We update this list each time we refresh our data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

Where are these trials running?

In 14 countries. The most sites are in Turkey (Türkiye) (6 trials), China (3 trials), United Kingdom (2 trials), United States (2 trials), Egypt (1 trial). Each study page lists its sites and which ones are recruiting.

What phases are they in?

Phase 2: 1. Trials with no phase listed are usually device, behavioural or observational studies.

How do I join one?

Open a study, check the "Is this trial a fit for you?" section, then contact the study team listed on the page. They will ask a few screening questions. Asking is free and does not commit you to anything. Talk it over with your doctor first.

Find the studies that fit you

A list is a starting point. Tell us your situation in your own words and we'll rank the studies that match and explain why. It's free and needs no account.

Describe your situation →