Helping parents of babies in the NICU build resilience
Official title: Resilient Families (R-FAM): A dyadic resiliency intervention for parents of babies in neonatal intensive care
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11058360 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new program called Resilient Families (R-FAM) to help parents of newborns in the NICU manage the emotional stress of having a baby in the hospital, and it’s designed with input from parents and staff to make sure it meets their needs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $169,100 |
| NIH project number | 5K23HD110597-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11058360 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are parents or caregivers of newborns admitted to the NICU.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a newborn in the NICU or those who are not experiencing emotional distress may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing and testing a new intervention called Resilient Families (R-FAM) aimed at helping parents of newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) cope with the emotional stress associated with their child's hospitalization. The approach involves gathering input from parents and NICU staff to create a tailored program that addresses their specific needs. The intervention will be piloted with parent couples to assess its feasibility and acceptability, ultimately aiming to improve family dynamics and child health outcomes during this challenging time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide parents with effective tools to manage stress and enhance their emotional well-being during their baby's NICU stay.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that interventions aimed at building resilience in parents during stressful medical situations can lead to improved emotional outcomes, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grunberg, Victoria Ann — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Grunberg, Victoria Ann
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
Balancing work and family after a NICU stay
This project follows parents of very preterm infants to understand how they manage returning to work and caring for their baby, with special attention to Black and low-income families.
-
Exploring the challenges faced by parents of premature infants in balancing work and family life
This study is looking at how parents of premature babies in the NICU manage their work and family life, especially focusing on the challenges faced by diverse families, like those from Black and low-income backgrounds, to help improve support for them and their babies.
-
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.
-
Pediatric ICU Sedation and Brain Recovery after Injury
This grant studies how sedation given in the pediatric ICU affects short- and long-term brain recovery in children who have suffered brain injuries.
-
How parents' public work programs affect children's health and learning in LMICs
A study will look at how families' participation in government cash-for-work programs influences kids’ health, education, and well-being in several low- and middle-income countries.
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.