A wearable device to monitor brain health in newborns with oxygen deprivation
Official title: Wearable NIRS Device for Continuous Monitoring of Cytochrome C Oxidase in Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11061897 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new, affordable wearable device that helps doctors keep an eye on the brain health of newborns with a condition called hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) by measuring important markers in real-time, so they can act quickly to help these babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $208,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R21NS137436-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11061897 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are newborns aged 0-4 weeks diagnosed with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 4 weeks or do not have a diagnosis of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a low-cost, wearable device that continuously monitors brain metabolism in newborns suffering from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). By using near-infrared spectroscopy, the device will measure important biomarkers related to brain health, such as the oxidation state of cytochrome c and hemoglobin levels. This real-time monitoring aims to provide critical information to healthcare providers, helping them make timely interventions to prevent further brain injury and improve outcomes for affected infants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better monitoring and treatment strategies for newborns with brain injuries, potentially reducing long-term disabilities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results using non-invasive monitoring techniques in similar patient populations, indicating potential for success with this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Herzberg, Emily Marie — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Herzberg, Emily Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Brain support cells in newborn brain injury after birth asphyxia
This grant studies how brain-supporting cells called pericytes affect brain damage after a newborn experiences a lack of oxygen at birth, with potential to guide new treatments.
-
Neonatal brain health: using a new NIRS approach to guide cooling therapy in newborns with HIE
A new NIH-funded approach aims to use bedside brain oxygen and blood flow measurements to personalize cooling therapy for babies with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
-
Brain-derived exosomes to detect and track newborn oxygen-related brain injury
This project looks for tiny brain-derived particles in newborns who had low oxygen at birth to help predict how they'll recover and whether cooling will help.
-
Personalized care for newborns with oxygen-related brain injury (HIE)
We are creating a combined MRI and clinical tool to better predict long-term outcomes for newborns who had low oxygen to the brain (neonatal HIE).
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Understanding the Link Between Maternal Infection and Brain Injury in Newborns
This project aims to better understand how infections during pregnancy might affect a newborn's brain and lead to conditions like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).
-
Improving Cooling Treatment for Newborn Brain Injury
This project looks for better ways to guide cooling treatment for newborns who have experienced brain injury due to lack of oxygen.
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.