NoviGuide for Newborn Care in Pakistan
Official title: NoviGuide Newborn Essentials: Clinical decision support tool to inform neonatal health care provider decision-making in Pakistan.
Funded at Aga Khan University (Pakistan) · NIH-11307182 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A phone- or computer-based decision tool helps frontline nurses and doctors make better newborn care choices in Pakistan.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Aga Khan University (Pakistan) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Karachi, Pakistan) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $109,725 |
| NIH project number | 1R21TW012977-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11307182 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Newborns in hospital settings in Pakistan, and the healthcare teams caring for them.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy newborns not needing changes in standard hospital care may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a healthcare software that guides clinicians in real-time to improve care for babies in the first weeks of life. It focuses on nurses and other frontline providers in Pakistani hospitals, aiming to translate proven practices into everyday decisions at the point of care. The study will monitor how the tool affects provider confidence, knowledge, and moments of care that could impact newborn survival. It builds on previous success in Africa and is the first to test the tool in South Asia. The effort seeks to generate evidence you can use to improve neonatal care in similar health systems.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tool could help reduce newborn complications and deaths by supporting better, timely decisions at the point of care.
How similar studies have gone: Prior evaluations showed improved nurse knowledge and self-efficacy in African settings with NoviGuide.
Where this research is happening
-
Aga Khan University (Pakistan)
Karachi, Pakistan Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ladak, Laila Akbar — Aga Khan University (Pakistan)
- Study coordinator: Ladak, Laila Akbar
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NoviGuide for Newborn Care in Pakistan
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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.