Anticoagulation-free artificial placenta oxygenator for preterm babies
Official title: An Anticoagulation-Free Artificial Placenta Oxygenator
Funded at Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware · NIH-11451859 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A clinician-scientist is developing a new, safer artificial placenta oxygenator that could help extremely premature infants breathe without needed blood thinners.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Wilmington, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $152,388 |
| NIH project number | 1K08HD120659-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11451859 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Preterm infants at high risk of complications from current ECLS oxygenators could be eligible in future trials after safety milestones are met.
✕Less likely to help
Children not requiring or eligible for advanced ECLS technologies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project, led by Dr. Blauvelt at Nemours Children’s Hospital, aims to create an anticoagulation-free oxygenator using microfluidic silicon membranes to improve compatibility with blood in extracorporeal life support for preterm infants. The work will use computer modeling and bench testing to optimize gas exchange, pressure, and blood-contact surfaces before any human testing. The goal is to move toward safer, bedside-ready technologies that could reduce mortality and long-term lung complications in babies born extremely early.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this technology could lower the risk of bleeding and other complications while improving survival and long-term outcomes for extremely preterm infants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous oxygenator improvements have reduced some risks, but anticoagulation-free solutions for preterm infants remain a developing area.
Where this research is happening
-
Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Wilmington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blauvelt, David — Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
- Study coordinator: Blauvelt, David
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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.