Multisensory Early Oral Human Milk for Very Preterm Infants
Official title: Randomized Controlled Trial of Multisensory Early Oral Administration of Human Milk (M-MILK) for Very Preterm Infants: Enhancing Stress Regulation, Neurodevelopment, and Oral Feeding Skills
Funded at Loyola University Chicago · NIH-11413402 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A randomized trial tests giving tiny drops of human milk in a multisensory way to very preterm babies starting on day 3 to support stress regulation, brain development, and easier oral feeding.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Loyola University Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Maywood, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $506,859 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD119077-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413402 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Very preterm infants less than 32 weeks gestation in NICUs, whose guardians consent to participate.
✕Less likely to help
Infants who do not respond to the intervention or have contraindications to breast milk or oral feeds may not benefit.
What this research studies
Very premature babies face high risks of neurodevelopmental problems and oral feeding difficulties. This study tests a new NICU intervention called M-MILK, where tiny droplets of breast milk are given in a multisensory way to help infants regulate stress and improve feeding skills. The intervention starts on day 3 and compares to standard care to see effects on stress biomarkers, brain development, and feeding outcomes. If successful, this approach could shorten NICU stays and improve long-term development for these vulnerable infants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, infants may experience better stress regulation, faster transition to full oral feeding, and improved neurodevelopment.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest potential benefits of early oral milk and multisensory feeding, but randomized evidence in this exact approach is limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Loyola University Chicago
Maywood, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Griffith, Thao T — Loyola University Chicago
- Study coordinator: Griffith, Thao T
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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.