Improving parent-infant interactions for preterm infants during early intervention
Official title: Evaluating changes in parent infant interaction during early intervention: Diversity Supplement for 1R03HD113705-01Sharing Developmental, Meta, and Video Data from Preterm Infants Enrolled in the SPEE
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11193097 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping parents connect and play with their very preterm babies, who might need a little extra support to grow and develop, by teaching them fun ways to interact before they leave the hospital and continue at home.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | September 15, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $119,311 |
| NIH project number | 3R03HD113705-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193097 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are parents of infants born very preterm (less than 32 weeks of gestation).
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have infants born very preterm or those who are not engaged in early intervention programs may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the interactions between parents and their very preterm infants, who are at risk for developmental disabilities. It utilizes an evidence-based intervention called Supporting Play Exploration and Development Intervention (SPEEDI), which trains parents to recognize their infant's cues and engage in meaningful play. Parents will participate in sessions before their infant is discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and will continue to provide daily play-based enrichment at home with support from physical therapists. The goal is to improve developmental outcomes by fostering early motor and cognitive skills.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved developmental outcomes for preterm infants and better parent-infant bonding.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that early interventions can significantly improve developmental outcomes for preterm infants, suggesting that this approach is promising.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dusing, Stacey Chapman — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Dusing, Stacey Chapman
Related research
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A safe, inexpensive chewable gum approach using xylitol is tested to help pregnant people reduce gum disease and lower the chance of preterm birth and related child health problems.
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A study in pregnant people will test whether screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and treating it during pregnancy can reduce the risk of babies being born too early.
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PREEMIE PROGRESS: a family program to help parents of very preterm babies
A family-centered program that teaches parents how to care for very preterm infants, offers psychosocial support, and connects families with resources to address social needs.
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.