A mobile health platform to support breastfeeding among low-income Hispanic mothers.
Official title: Multi-modal Intervention for Lactation Care (MILC) will be a mHealth platform to increase
Funded at Benten Technologies, INC. · NIH-10692677 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a helpful mobile app called MILC that supports low-income Hispanic moms with breastfeeding by providing friendly advice and resources through a chatbot, making it easier for them to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Benten Technologies, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manassas, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $792,546 |
| NIH project number | 5R44MD017174-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10692677 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are low-income Hispanic mothers who are pregnant or have infants under six months old.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not identify as Hispanic or who are not in the low-income bracket may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research develops a mobile health platform called Multi-modal Intervention for Lactation Care (MILC) aimed at increasing breastfeeding rates among low-income Hispanic mothers. The platform will utilize a chatbot system to provide virtual support, addressing common barriers to breastfeeding such as education, technical assistance, and social support. By offering tailored resources and guidance, the intervention seeks to promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, ultimately improving health outcomes for infants. The approach is designed to be accessible and culturally relevant to the target population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve breastfeeding rates and reduce health disparities among infants in low-income Hispanic communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using mobile health interventions to support breastfeeding, indicating that this approach has potential for positive outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Benten Technologies, INC.
Manassas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ma, Tony Xuyen — Benten Technologies, INC.
- Study coordinator: Ma, Tony Xuyen
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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.