A tool to help preterm infants improve their oral feeding skills

Pedi-Sync: A Clinical Decision Support Tool to Improve Oral Feeding Outcomes in Preterm Infants

NIH-funded research Neocare Innovations, INC. · NIH-11260394

This study is testing a new tool called Pedi-Sync that helps doctors improve feeding for preterm babies in the NICU by tracking their heart rate and oxygen levels, making it easier for them to swallow and breathe while eating, which could help them go home sooner.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNeocare Innovations, INC. NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Santa Monica, United States)
Project IDNIH-11260394 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing Pedi-Sync, a clinical decision support tool designed to enhance oral feeding outcomes for preterm infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). The tool measures vital physiological data, such as heart rate and oxygen saturation, to assess an infant's feeding performance. By quantifying how well infants can coordinate swallowing and breathing during feeding, Pedi-Sync aims to provide clinicians with actionable insights to improve feeding practices. The ultimate goal is to reduce the length of NICU stays and associated healthcare costs for these vulnerable infants.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are preterm infants currently admitted to a NICU who are struggling with oral feeding.

Not a fit: Patients who are full-term infants or those who do not require NICU care may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the oral feeding skills of preterm infants, leading to faster hospital discharges and reduced healthcare costs.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that clinical decision support tools can effectively improve patient outcomes in various healthcare settings, suggesting a promising potential for this novel approach.

Where this research is happening

Santa Monica, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.