Antenatal steroids to boost lung health in premature babies in Bangladesh
Official title: Efficacy of antenatal corticosteroids on the lung development of premature children in Bangladesh - the BiLDing-ACTION cohort
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11420331 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether giving steroids before birth helps the lungs grow better in babies born very early in Bangladesh.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $247,220 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL177203-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11420331 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Premature babies born before 34 weeks or between 34-36 weeks and 6 days who potentially receive antenatal corticosteroids.
✕Less likely to help
Some children born very early may not experience measurable lung benefits from antenatal steroids.
What this research studies
The study will follow a group of children born prematurely to see if antenatal corticosteroids improve lung growth from early childhood through ages 6 to 8. It builds on WHO trials and uses new lung-function tests and a digital stethoscope with automatic lung sound analysis. Children in the US, Bangladesh, and other LMICs may be included to understand how the treatment works in different settings. The research compares steroid treatment with placebo and looks at respiratory infections as a potential outcome. Results could inform guidelines on antenatal care for preterm births in low-resource environments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve long-term lung health and reduce respiratory problems for children born prematurely.
How similar studies have gone: The project builds on WHO trials, with ongoing research to determine long-term lung outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mccollum, Eric Douglass — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Mccollum, Eric Douglass
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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.