Phthalate Exposure and How It Affects Newborns in the NICU
Official title: Phthalate Exposure and Mechanisms of Action in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Funded at Feinstein Institute for Medical Research · NIH-11594454 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how chemicals called phthalates in the NICU environment may affect the health and development of newborns, especially those born prematurely.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Feinstein Institute for Medical Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhasset, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $838,253 |
| NIH project number | 4R01ES034018-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11594454 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Newborns admitted to the NICU, especially those born prematurely, and their families.
✕Less likely to help
Newborns without NICU exposure to high phthalate levels or whose care practices already minimize exposure may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
In the NICU, fragile newborns are often exposed to high levels of phthalates through medical devices and procedures. The project aims to understand how these exposures occur, how the body processes them in preterm infants, and how they might influence growth, neurodevelopment, and lung health. By combining clinical observation with pharmacokinetic studies, researchers seek to map exposure pathways and identify care practices that minimize risk. The findings could inform safer NICU protocols and potentially reduce long-term complications for vulnerable newborns.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to safer NICU environments and better health outcomes for preterm and vulnerable newborns.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked in-hospital phthalate exposure to negative growth and neurodevelopmental trajectories in preterm infants, supporting the relevance of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Manhasset, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stroustrup, Annemarie — Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
- Study coordinator: Stroustrup, Annemarie
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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.