Intermittent Hypoxemia in Early Life and Sleep in Preterm Children
Official title: Intermittent Hypoxemia in Early Life among Preterms (I-HELP) Sleep
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11379517 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study following school-age children who were born extremely preterm to understand how early breathing problems in the NICU relate to their sleep and health today.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,332,060 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL186511-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379517 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 8–11 who were born extremely preterm (<29 weeks gestation) and are enrolled from the Pre-Vent/Post-Vent cohorts, plus a comparison group of full-term siblings.
✕Less likely to help
Children without a history of extreme prematurity or those not enrolled in the referenced cohorts may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses data from previous NICU studies and follow-up programs to look at how patterns of low oxygen events in the NICU relate to sleep quality, cardiovascular function, brain health, and behavior in kids aged 8–11 who were born very prematurely. Researchers will track 250 ex-preterm children and 100 full-term siblings across multiple sites, using overnight sleep studies and other assessments. The goal is to identify physiological signals tied to early IH that predict later sleep-disordered breathing and related health outcomes. Results could help clinicians monitor and support sleep and cardiovascular health in this high-risk group.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could improve screening and management of sleep and cardiovascular issues in children born extremely preterm.
How similar studies have gone: Longitudinal work combining NICU data with later sleep and health outcomes has shown important links, but this study adds a targeted cohort and detailed sleep testing in school-age children.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weese-Mayer, Debra Ellyn — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Weese-Mayer, Debra Ellyn
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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.