Improving cooling treatment for newborns with HIE

Advanced therapeutic hypothermia efficacy network modeling in neonatal HIE

['FUNDING_R01'] · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · NIH-11143261

The team will build a computer model using medical records and blood markers to predict which newborns with hypoxic‑ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) respond well to cooling therapy.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorJOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11143261 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If my newborn has HIE, this project will combine their clinical data, brain scans, and blood biomarkers along with community information to train a neural network linking early measures to later outcomes. The researchers will use samples and two‑year follow‑up from infants treated with therapeutic hypothermia at several hospitals to teach the model which babies benefit from cooling. The aim is to identify infants who remain at high risk despite cooling so doctors can consider additional treatments sooner. The team builds on prior biomarker work and applies machine learning to produce real‑time, bedside‑usable predictions.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Newborns diagnosed with hypoxic‑ischemic encephalopathy who receive therapeutic hypothermia and whose parents consent to blood sampling and follow‑up are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Adults, older children, babies without HIE, or newborns who do not receive therapeutic hypothermia would not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit directly.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could help doctors identify newborns who need extra therapies beyond cooling and personalize care to reduce death and long‑term disability.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked specific blood biomarkers to HIE severity and outcomes and cooling cuts death/disability by about 30%, but using integrated machine‑learning models to predict individual response is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

BALTIMORE, 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 →

Conditions: Acquired brain injury

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.