New treatments to protect the brains of preterm infants
Official title: Combinatorial Neuroprotective Strategies for Preterm Brain Injury
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-10931611 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for ways to protect the brains of very premature babies, who often face challenges later in life, by testing new treatments in ferrets that mimic their conditions, with the hope of finding solutions that can help these tiny infants thrive.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $528,893 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD111440-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10931611 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are extremely preterm infants born before 28 weeks of gestation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not preterm or who do not have neurodevelopmental concerns related to preterm birth may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing neuroprotective strategies for extremely preterm infants, who are at high risk for long-term disabilities. By using advanced techniques in both laboratory models and animal studies, the researchers aim to identify effective therapies that can reduce brain injury and improve neurodevelopmental outcomes. The study utilizes a ferret model to mimic the conditions faced by preterm infants, allowing for the evaluation of potential treatments in a controlled environment. The goal is to translate these findings into clinical applications that can benefit vulnerable infants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that significantly improve brain health and developmental outcomes for preterm infants.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in developing neuroprotective strategies for preterm infants, but this specific approach using the ferret model is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nance, Elizabeth a — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Nance, Elizabeth a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Brain injury risk in preterm babies with heart disease and how surgery choices affect their brains
This project follows newborns with congenital heart disease born early to understand how their brains are affected and how different surgical approaches might influence outcomes.
-
Optimizing caffeine therapy to protect kidneys and brain in preterm babies
A randomized study tests whether giving caffeine to very premature babies with kidney and brain hypoxia can reduce kidney injury and improve early brain and kidney outcomes.
-
Combinatorial neuroprotective strategies for preterm brain injury in youth
A study tests combinations of treatments to protect the brains of extremely preterm infants as they grow into adolescence.
-
How fatty acids change after newborn brain injury
Researchers are studying how energy from fats in the brain changes after a baby’s brain injury from being born early and how this affects brain development.
-
Protecting preterm babies' cerebellum from damage after brain bleeding
Researchers are testing whether blocking the blood protein fibrinogen can protect the developing cerebellum of preterm infants after brain hemorrhage.
-
Brain injury risks in preterm newborns with congenital heart disease
This grant studies how being born preterm with congenital heart disease affects brain development and injury, to help improve outcomes for affected babies.
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.