An inhaled medicine for tiny babies' lungs
Inhaled ciclesonide - a phase I study in preterm infants
This research is exploring a new inhaled medicine called ciclesonide to help protect the lungs of very premature babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11161516 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Very premature babies often develop a serious lung condition called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which can lead to long-term breathing problems. While some medicines are currently used to prevent BPD, they can have serious side effects, including affecting brain development. This project is looking at ciclesonide, an inhaled medicine already approved for asthma in older children, to see if it can protect the lungs of premature infants without these harmful side effects. Researchers have seen promising results in lab studies, suggesting it might be as effective as current treatments but much safer for these vulnerable infants.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research would be very premature infants born before 30 weeks of gestation.
Not a fit: Patients who are not premature infants or those without risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia would not receive direct benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this medicine could offer a safer way to prevent serious lung disease in premature infants, reducing long-term health problems.
How similar studies have performed: While ciclesonide is approved for asthma in older children, its use for preventing lung injury in premature infants is a novel application, with promising results seen in animal models.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo) — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sampath, Venkatesh — Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo)
- Study coordinator: Sampath, Venkatesh
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 below.