A device that concentrates mother's milk to support the growth of preterm infants.
Official title: Point of Care maternal milk concentration device optimizing neonatal growth with targeted nutrition support: Establishing clinical evidence of benefit as an alternative to milk sourced fortification
Funded at Mother's Milk Is Best, INC. · NIH-11068786 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new device that helps make a mother's milk richer in nutrients for preterm babies in the NICU, so they can get the best possible start in life without needing extra cow's milk, and it aims to show how well this device works in real-life settings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mother's Milk Is Best, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tyngsboro, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,175,845 |
| NIH project number | 2R44HD110306-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11068786 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are preterm infants receiving care in Neonatal Intensive Care Units.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are full-term infants or those who cannot be fed mother's milk will not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a point of care device that concentrates mother's own milk for preterm infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). By using a gentle osmotic draw, the device removes excess water from the milk, allowing infants to receive optimal nutrients and bioactive components without the need for bovine milk fortifiers. This innovation aims to enhance the health outcomes of preterm infants by increasing their intake of mother's milk, which is crucial for their immune system and overall development. The project includes a clinical trial across three sites to gather evidence for the device's effectiveness and support its commercialization.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the health and survival rates of preterm infants by providing them with enhanced nutrition from their own mother's milk.
How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches have shown promise in enhancing neonatal nutrition, but this specific device represents a novel innovation in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
Mother's Milk Is Best, INC.
Tyngsboro, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nelson, Elizabeth Randall — Mother's Milk Is Best, INC.
- Study coordinator: Nelson, Elizabeth Randall
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.