Preterm infant body composition and early-life health after NICU stay
Official title: Preterm infant body composition trajectories, neurodevelopment, and cardiometabolic health
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11600939 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how body composition in very preterm babies relates to later brain development and risk of obesity or diabetes, with findings meant to improve care from NICU through early childhood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $498,848 |
| NIH project number | 1R56HD122751-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11600939 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Very preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation) and their families, followed through the first two years after NICU discharge, may participate.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy full-term infants or children without preterm birth are not the intended participants and likely will not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
Very preterm babies face high risks for neurodevelopmental problems and later chronic diseases. The project will track fat-free mass and fat mass in the NICU and during the first two years after discharge using a feasible bioimpedance method to see how these measures relate to brain growth and cardiometabolic health. By understanding growth quality in early life, clinicians can tailor nutrition to support better outcomes. The study combines clinical NICU care with follow-up assessments to identify early predictors of later health risks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could guide NICU nutrition strategies to promote healthier body composition and lower future risk of neurodevelopmental issues and metabolic diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests body composition in early life relates to later outcomes, but this project tests a novel, feasible in-NICU measurement approach and longitudinal prediction.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Belfort, Mandy Brown — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Belfort, Mandy Brown
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Screening and treatment of Chlamydia infection in pregnancy to help prevent preterm birth
This grant studies whether screening pregnant people for Chlamydia trachomatis and treating those who are positive can reduce the risk of preterm birth.
-
Body composition and outcomes after lung transplant
A patient-focused look at how body fat and muscle measurements around the time of lung transplant relate to recovery, complications, and quality of life after surgery.
-
Psychosocial and cultural factors linked to heart and metabolic health in older Chinese Americans
This project studies how daily stress and social factors affect heart and metabolic health in older Chinese Americans, using real-time reporting and biosamples.
-
Brain injury risk in preterm babies with heart disease and how surgery choices affect their brains
This project follows newborns with congenital heart disease born early to understand how their brains are affected and how different surgical approaches might influence outcomes.
-
Xylitol to Prevent Periodontal Disease and Preterm Birth in Pregnancy and Early Childhood
A safe, inexpensive chewable gum approach using xylitol is tested to help pregnant people reduce gum disease and lower the chance of preterm birth and related child health problems.
-
Screening and treatment for Chlamydia infection to help prevent preterm birth
A study in pregnant people will test whether screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and treating it during pregnancy can reduce the risk of babies being born too early.
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.