Early warning monitors for very small premature babies in the NICU
Official title: Predictive informatics monitoring in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11327642 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Uses advanced computer analysis of bedside monitor data to find early signs of infection and serious gut disease in very low birth weight premature infants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2014 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $656,442 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD072071-12 |
| Project ID | NIH-11327642 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are very low birth weight (VLBW) premature infants cared for in participating neonatal intensive care units who have continuous bedside monitoring.
✕Less likely to help
Full-term infants, babies not admitted to a participating NICU, or infants without continuous monitor data are unlikely to benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This project uses the same bedside monitor data that already watch your baby—heart rate and oxygen levels—and applies advanced time-series and machine-learning methods to spot subtle changes before symptoms appear. The team builds on the HeRO monitor, which previously reduced sepsis deaths, and is adding oxygen saturation patterns and combined heart rate–SpO2 trends to improve early detection of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Researchers are testing these algorithms across different hospitals to make sure they work for babies with different demographics and care practices. If your baby is in a participating NICU, the goal is to provide earlier alerts so clinicians can act sooner.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could enable earlier alarms and treatment for sepsis or NEC, potentially reducing deaths and long-term complications in very small premature infants.
How similar studies have gone: A prior randomized trial of the HeRO monitor reduced sepsis-related mortality by about 40% in 3,003 VLBW infants, and this project builds on that successful approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fairchild, Karen D — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Fairchild, Karen D
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Phthalate Exposure and How It Affects Newborns in the NICU
This grant looks at how chemicals called phthalates in the NICU environment may affect the health and development of newborns, especially those born prematurely.
-
Improving care for opioid use disorder in the ICU
This project helps hospital staff in intensive care units provide better care for patients with opioid use disorder.
-
Juggling Work and Family for Parents of Very Preterm Babies
A study to understand how work and family demands affect parents of very preterm infants and how this shapes their ability to support their baby’s development.
-
Implementing SDOH screening and referrals in the NICU to support fragile newborns
A NICU-based program to screen newborns and families for social needs and connect them to services that can improve health and development.
-
Attenuating Depression with Internet CBT to Slow Cognitive Decline in Older ICU Survivors
A new online cognitive behavioral therapy program is being tested to help older ICU survivors who are experiencing depressive symptoms and may be at risk for cognitive decline.
-
Multisensory care to boost development in preterm babies in the NICU
A program called SENSE uses gentle touch, sounds, and parent bonding in the NICU to support brain development for very preterm infants and help families stay involved.
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.