PREEMIE PROGRESS: a family program to help parents of very preterm babies
Official title: PREEMIE PROGRESS 3.0: A family management program for parents of preterm infants
Funded at University of Cincinnati · NIH-11453285 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A family-centered program that teaches parents how to care for very preterm infants, offers psychosocial support, and connects families with resources to address social needs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $461,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD119719-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11453285 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Parents of very preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation) and families involved with NICU care who need training, psychosocial support, and help addressing social determinants of health.
✕Less likely to help
Families without NICU involvement for a very preterm infant or those not seeking additional training or social support may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project works with families of babies born very early to provide a flexible training plan for infant care, support for mental well-being, and help accessing social services. It aims to reduce stress and improve parenting confidence during and after the NICU stay. The approach combines hands-on guidance with connections to community resources, tailored to each family's situation. By supporting parents in managing complex care and social needs, the program seeks to improve short- and long-term outcomes for both baby and family.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families could experience less parental stress, better infant care at home, and reduced readmissions after NICU discharge.
How similar studies have gone: Previous programs show that structured parent training and psychosocial support can improve parenting efficacy and outcomes for preterm infants, but comprehensive SDOH integration is less studied.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weber, Ashley M. — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Weber, Ashley M.
Related research
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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.