Donor milk that keeps its good stuff: safer with high-pressure and UV-C; better digestion and growth for preterm babies
Official title: Can high pressure processing (HPP) and ultraviolet-C irradiation (UV-C) treatment preserve donor milk bioactive protein structure and function better than holder pasteurization
Funded at Oregon State University · NIH-11449718 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to see if donor human milk treated with high pressure and UV-C keeps bioactive proteins better than standard pasteurization, and whether that helps preterm babies digest nutrients and grow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Corvallis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $521,426 |
| NIH project number | 2R01HD106140-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449718 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Preterm infants who receive donor human milk as part of their feeding plan may participate.
✕Less likely to help
Term infants or those not receiving donor milk may not benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
This project tests donor milk processed with two newer methods, high pressure and UV-C light, to see if preserving healing proteins helps preterm infants digest fats and proteins more effectively. Researchers will compare microbial safety and the presence of bioactive proteins in the treated milk to traditional Holder pasteurized milk, then observe effects on digestion in the babies’ GI tract and their growth. The study builds on prior findings that these methods may retain beneficial proteins that support digestion and immunity. If successful, the work could lead to donor milk that supports better growth and development for vulnerable newborns.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If proven, donor milk treated with HP or UV-C could improve digestion and growth in preterm infants by preserving essential bioactive proteins.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest HP/UV-C can preserve bioactive proteins, but translation to infant digestion and growth needs confirmation.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon State University
Corvallis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dallas, David Charles — Oregon State University
- Study coordinator: Dallas, David Charles
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.