Finding the Best Oxygen Levels for Preterm Babies at Birth

Optimization of Saturation Targets And Resuscitation Trial (OptiSTART)

NIH-funded research Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11126662

This research aims to discover the safest and most effective oxygen levels for very premature babies right after they are born.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUt Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Dallas, United States)
Project IDNIH-11126662 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

When premature babies are born, they often need oxygen to help them breathe, but too much or too little oxygen can cause problems like lung issues or even affect survival. Doctors currently use oxygen targets based on healthy full-term babies, which might not be ideal for preemies. This project will compare different oxygen levels to see which ones lead to better health outcomes for these vulnerable infants. We want to make sure premature babies get just the right amount of oxygen to thrive.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: The ideal participants for this research would be very premature infants born at the participating medical center.

Not a fit: Full-term infants or older children would not directly benefit from this specific research focus.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new guidelines for oxygen use that improve survival and reduce long-term health problems for preterm infants.

How similar studies have performed: Preliminary data from a smaller pilot study suggests that higher oxygen targets might be beneficial for preterm infants.

Where this research is happening

Dallas, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.