Gut bacteria and early feeding in children with severe pediatric ARDS

Microbiome and Nutrition in Severe PARDS

['FUNDING_R01'] · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · NIH-11086088

See whether starting tube or formula feeds early changes gut bacteria and reduces lung inflammation in children with severe pediatric ARDS.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorBAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (nih funded)
Locations1 site (HOUSTON, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11086088 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If your child is in the PROSpect trial for severe pediatric ARDS, this ancillary project will collect stool samples and clinical information to look at gut bacteria and related chemicals called short-chain fatty acids. The team will use 16S sequencing to map which gut microbes are present and measure butyrate levels that may protect the lungs. They will compare children who get early enteral nutrition (EEN) with those who do not to link feeding, microbes, and lung inflammation. This work is done across multiple hospitals participating in the larger PROSpect trial.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Children (infants through age 11) with severe pediatric ARDS who are enrolled at a PROSpect trial hospital and receiving mechanical ventilation are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Children without PARDS, with only mild lung disease, adults, or those not enrolled at participating PROSpect hospitals are unlikely to benefit from this specific study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify an easy, low-cost feeding approach that lowers lung inflammation and may reduce deaths in children with severe PARDS.

How similar studies have performed: Retrospective studies have linked early enteral feeding to lower mortality and animal studies show butyrate can reduce lung injury, but applying these mechanistic tests in children within a randomized trial context is new.

Where this research is happening

HOUSTON, 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.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.