Breastfeeding Education Support Tool for Baby
Funded at Thomas Jefferson University · NIH-11474437 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community-based program in India trains mothers with peer counselors and a mobile app to support exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and promote healthy growth and development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $209,829 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HD112492-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11474437 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pregnant women in the selected communities in Karnataka who plan to follow through with postpartum breastfeeding and have access to the study sites.
✕Less likely to help
Families not engaged in breastfeeding or unable to adhere to the program may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a breastfeeding education and support tool called BEST4Baby, delivered by trained peer counselors and guided by a mobile health app. It will be tested in four sites in Karnataka, India, using a cluster randomized design with 1,152 pregnant women followed from pregnancy through early infancy. Participants receive either routine care or the 11 in-person BEST4Baby visits plus digital support, measuring exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months, infant growth velocity, and neurodevelopment. The study blends real-world implementation with evaluation to see how well the program works in community settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could increase exclusive breastfeeding rates and improve early child growth and development.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research supports peer-counselor and mHealth approaches for breastfeeding, though this hybrid type I trial in India is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Short, Vanessa L — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Short, Vanessa L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
CAB-LA PrEP for breastfeeding women after delivery in Botswana
This study tests a long-acting HIV prevention shot for new mothers who are breastfeeding in Botswana to see if it prevents HIV safely and effectively.
-
Promoting Breastfeeding to Prevent Postpartum Smoking Relapse
A trial tests whether encouraging new mothers to breastfeed helps prevent them from starting to smoke again after giving birth.
-
Breastfeeding support to reduce obesity risk in children
A family-based program helps new Hispanic mothers in the WIC program breastfeed more and give babies a healthier start to prevent obesity and diabetes later.
-
Transdermal HIV prevention for breastfeeding infants using bnAbs on a patch
A child-focused HIV prevention approach uses a patch to deliver protective antibodies through the skin to babies who are breastfed.
-
Breastfeeding, Microbiome, and Early-Life Respiratory Health
A study to see how a baby’s gut and nose bacteria, influenced by breastfeeding, relate to the risk of chest infections and asthma as they grow.
-
CAB-LA PrEP for new mothers: safer HIV prevention for breastfeeding women in Botswana
A study tests a long-acting HIV prevention injection for breastfeeding women who are at high risk of HIV in Botswana.
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.