Comparing medicines for newborn opioid withdrawal at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Clinical Site for HEAL NOWS Pharmacologic Trial
This project compares medicines and care approaches to help newborns with opioid withdrawal get better faster and safer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169003 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your baby is born with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), this site will enroll infants to compare commonly used medications and strong non‑drug care practices. Doctors will use careful dosing plans—building on prior buprenorphine work—collect health data and, with permission, genetic or blood samples, and closely monitor symptoms and hospital stay length. Families will be followed after discharge to track recovery and development. The team at Thomas Jefferson University has run similar trials and will use standardized methods to compare which treatments work best.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are newborns diagnosed with NOWS whose mothers used opioids during pregnancy and who can receive care at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
Not a fit: Infants without opioid withdrawal, older infants, or those with medical conditions that make trial treatments unsafe are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify safer, more effective medication and dosing strategies that reduce withdrawal symptoms and shorten hospital stays for affected infants.
How similar studies have performed: Previous trials at Thomas Jefferson University and elsewhere—including work optimizing buprenorphine dosing and the AIM2NAS study—have shown promising results and support this comparative approach.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Thomas Jefferson University — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kraft, Walter K — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Kraft, Walter K
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.