Investigating the effects of early antibiotic use in newborns with very low birth weight

The NICU Antibiotics and Outcomes (NANO) Trial

NIH-funded research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10677891

The NANO Trial is looking into whether giving antibiotics right after birth helps or harms extremely low birthweight babies, so doctors can make better decisions about their care.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project IDNIH-10677891 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

The NANO Trial focuses on the practice of giving intravenous antibiotics to extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants right after birth. These infants often receive antibiotics for a few days while doctors wait for test results to check for infections. The research aims to determine if this early antibiotic treatment actually improves health outcomes or if it could potentially cause harm, especially considering the impact of antibiotics on the developing microbiome. By analyzing data on health outcomes, the study seeks to clarify the benefits and risks of this common practice.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are newborns classified as extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants who are at risk for early onset sepsis.

Not a fit: Patients who are not newborns or those who do not fall into the extremely low birthweight category may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment protocols for newborns, potentially reducing unnecessary antibiotic exposure and its associated risks.

How similar studies have performed: While the approach of studying antibiotic effects in newborns is not widely tested, there is emerging evidence suggesting that antibiotic exposure can have significant long-term effects on health outcomes.

Where this research is happening

Pittsburgh, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 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.