Improving mobility for critically ill children in the PICU
Official title: Clinical Effectiveness of the "PICU Up!" Multifaceted Early Mobility Intervention for Critically Ill Children: A pragmatic, stepped-wedge trial
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11094003 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new program called 'PICU Up!' to help critically ill children move around more in the pediatric intensive care unit, which can help them recover better and feel stronger, and it involves families in the process to make it easier for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | June 8, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $508,249 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD103811-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11094003 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are critically ill children aged 0-21 years who are admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit and may require mechanical ventilation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not critically ill or those who do not require admission to a pediatric intensive care unit may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new approach called 'PICU Up!' aimed at enhancing early mobility for critically ill children in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). The intervention combines strategies for managing sedation, preventing delirium, promoting sleep, and involving families to support children's mobility within three days of their admission. By integrating these components, the study seeks to reduce the physical and cognitive impairments that can occur in children after critical illness. The research will assess the effectiveness of this multifaceted intervention through a pragmatic trial across multiple sites.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve recovery outcomes and quality of life for critically ill children by reducing long-term physical and cognitive impairments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in critically ill adults have shown that early mobility interventions can be effective, but this specific approach for children is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kudchadkar, Sapna R — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Kudchadkar, Sapna R
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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.