A tool to help preterm infants improve their oral feeding skills
Official title: Pedi-Sync: A Clinical Decision Support Tool to Improve Oral Feeding Outcomes in Preterm Infants
Funded at Neocare Innovations, INC. · NIH-11260394 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Neocare Innovations, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Monica, United States) |
| Project start | June 12, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $55,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R41HD113429-01A1S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11260394 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are preterm infants currently admitted to a NICU who are struggling with oral feeding.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are full-term infants or those who do not require NICU care may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Neocare Innovations, INC.
Santa Monica, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bradley, Car — Neocare Innovations, INC.
- Study coordinator: Bradley, Car
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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.