A virtual program to help caregivers support healthy growth in infants and toddlers
Official title: Mothers and CareGivers Investing in Children: A virtual intervention to support healthy growth in infants and toddlers
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11056898 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a friendly online program called MAGIC FEED+ to help parents and caregivers of babies and toddlers learn better feeding practices, so they can encourage healthy eating habits right from the start.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $546,221 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK135947-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11056898 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are low-income and Hispanic caregivers with infants aged three weeks to six months.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have infants or are not involved in caregiving for children under 11 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a virtual intervention called the MAGIC FEED+ program, aimed at promoting healthy feeding practices among caregivers of infants and toddlers. The program focuses on responsive feeding techniques, including both bottle and breast-feeding, to encourage healthy eating habits from an early age. Caregivers will participate in virtual sessions starting when their child is just three weeks old, with follow-up assessments to monitor growth and body composition over time. The study will involve 266 predominantly low-income and Hispanic families, providing them with resources and support to improve their children's nutrition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved growth and healthier eating habits in infants and toddlers, potentially reducing the risk of childhood obesity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous pilot work has shown success in implementing similar interventions focused on responsive feeding in underserved populations.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Widen, Elizabeth Marie — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Widen, Elizabeth Marie
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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.