Preschool outcomes after an economic program to boost mother’s milk in very preterm infants
Official title: Neurodevelopmental, Health, and Economic Outcomes at Preschool Age in Former Very Preterm Infants Randomized to An Economic Intervention to Support Mother's Own Milk
Funded at Rush University Medical Center · NIH-11415790 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether giving mothers of very preterm babies financial support and services to feed breast milk in the NICU improves children’s development, health, and costs as they reach preschool age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $585,797 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD119178-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415790 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Very preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation) and their mothers who are enrolled in the ReDiMOM program or standard lactation care.
✕Less likely to help
Families not using or not benefiting from mom’s own milk or the economic support may see limited or no clear advantage.
What this research studies
In this study, researchers look at kids born very preterm and follow them as they reach preschool years to understand how higher amounts of mother’s own milk in infancy may relate to development, health, and costs later on. The team is building on an ongoing trial that provides an economic package (breast pump rental, home milk pickup, and incentives) to mothers, alongside standard lactation care. By comparing families who receive the economic package to those who receive usual care, they hope to see long-term effects on cognition, obesity risk, respiratory health, and family costs. Participants come from a single center in Chicago, and the study will track outcomes up to age 5 and beyond if possible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could support policies and programs that help more preterm infants receive mom’s milk, potentially improving child health and reducing long-term costs.
How similar studies have gone: Prior observational studies suggest MOM has benefits, but this is the first ethically randomized trial to test long-term effects with an economic support package.
Where this research is happening
-
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Patel, Aloka Lahoti — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Patel, Aloka Lahoti
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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.