Pediatric ICU Sedation and Brain Recovery after Injury
Official title: Intensive Care Sedation Effects on Recovery and Development after Pediatric Brain Trauma
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11528580 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how sedation given in the pediatric ICU affects short- and long-term brain recovery in children who have suffered brain injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $537,877 |
| NIH project number | 1R56NS142722-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11528580 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children with acquired brain injury admitted to pediatric intensive care who require sedation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing prolonged sedation in the ICU or without brain injury may not benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
In very young patients with brain injury, many require prolonged sedation in the ICU. The study builds on animal data suggesting that common sedatives might influence brain development, and it aims to understand these effects in children. Researchers at Johns Hopkins will explore how different sedation practices during ICU care relate to later neurological outcomes, focusing on midazolam exposure and related drugs. The project uses existing clinical data and careful monitoring to identify potential links between sedative exposure and recovery trajectories in pediatric patients. Findings could guide safer sedation strategies to improve long-term brain health after injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could inform safer ICU sedation practices that support better long-term neurologic recovery for children after brain injury.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies indicate harmful effects of certain sedatives on brain development; this study seeks direct evidence in pediatric patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Robertson, Courtney L — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Robertson, Courtney L
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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.