Improving care for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit
Official title: Multisensory interventions to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-10892638 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a special program called SENSE to help preterm babies in the NICU grow and develop better by using gentle touch, sounds, and skin-to-skin time, while also helping parents connect with their little ones during their hospital stay.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $657,351 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD105557-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10892638 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are very preterm infants who are hospitalized in the NICU and their parents.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not preterm or those who are not hospitalized in the NICU may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the health and development of preterm infants who are hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). It aims to implement a structured multisensory intervention program called SENSE, which includes evidence-based practices such as massage, auditory exposure, and skin-to-skin care. These interventions are designed to provide positive sensory experiences that support brain development and help parents engage with their infants during hospitalization. By tailoring the interventions to the infant's developmental stage, the research seeks to optimize outcomes for both infants and their families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved neurodevelopmental outcomes for preterm infants and strengthen parent-child relationships during critical early life stages.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown positive outcomes with multisensory interventions in the NICU, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pineda, Roberta — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Pineda, Roberta
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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Helping preterm babies in the NICU grow and develop better with gentle sensory experiences
This project aims to help very preterm babies in the NICU develop well by providing them with gentle, positive sensory experiences and supporting their parents.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.