Multi-component chlorination to reduce infections in newborns at rural clinics
Official title: Multi-component chlorination intervention to reduce neonatal infections in rural health facilities
Funded at University of California Berkeley · NIH-11538025 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A low-cost, automatic chlorine-disinfection system will be tested in rural Kenyan health facilities to reduce infections and antibiotic resistance among newborns and mothers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | June 7, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $98,425 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI184756-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11538025 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Newborns (0-28 days) and mothers receiving care in participating rural health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Kenya.
✕Less likely to help
Facilities that do not participate or do not adopt the chlorination system may not experience changes.
What this research studies
This project tests a new chlorination setup that doses chlorine automatically, using off-the-shelf components and no electricity. It will be implemented in 30 rural clinics to see if cleaner water and surfaces reduce harmful bacteria and antibiotic-resistant infections in newborns and mothers. Researchers will measure bacteria levels in water, surfaces, and healthcare worker hands, and assess health outcomes for mothers and newborns. The study blends engineering, microbiology, epidemiology, and pediatrics to provide rigorous evidence for a scalable solution.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could lower newborn infections and antibiotic resistance in rural health facilities, improving survival and health for mothers and babies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous similar approaches show promise but this exact in-line chlorination intervention in rural Kenyan facilities is being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pickering, Amy J. — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Pickering, Amy J.
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.