Parent-led early oral-sensory feeding for preterm infants in the NICU
Official title: Parent-Facilitated Early Oral-Sensory Experience Program: Enhancing NICU Outcomes Through a Family-Centered Feeding Approach
Funded at Boston College · NIH-11373305 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A parent-delivered, structured feeding program in the NICU helps preterm babies learn to eat by giving small amounts of human milk under expert coaching.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chestnut Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2026 |
| Project end | September 4, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $459,704 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD119389-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11373305 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Parents and their preterm infants (≤37 weeks gestational age) in the NICU who are able to participate in coaching-based feeding sessions.
✕Less likely to help
Babies or families unable to participate in coaching sessions or with medical conditions prohibiting oral feeding may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a parent-delivered feeding approach for babies born at or before 37 weeks in the NICU, using a coaching framework to guide early oral-sensory experiences with human milk. It aims to see whether the program is feasible, acceptable, and shows signals of helping babies start oral feeding sooner and supporting families. The study builds on a previously tested nurse-led intervention and adapts it for parent participation. Researchers will collect information on how well families can use the technique and how well infants tolerate early oral feeds. Findings will inform larger trials to improve NICU outcomes and family well-being.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could shorten hospital stays, improve feeding skills, and strengthen parent-infant bonding.
How similar studies have gone: Previous nurse-delivered feeding interventions showed promise; this study tests a parent-delivered model in a real-world NICU setting.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Park, Jinhee — Boston College
- Study coordinator: Park, Jinhee
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.