Protecting Premature Babies' Brains
Combinatorial Neuroprotective Strategies for Preterm Brain Injury
This project looks for new ways to protect the brains of extremely premature babies to help them grow up healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126054 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many extremely premature babies face challenges like cerebral palsy, autism, or ADHD due to brain injuries that can happen around birth. Currently, there are no specific treatments to protect their developing brains. This project uses advanced laboratory models, including ferret brain tissue and a ferret model that mimics preterm brain injury, to test different combinations of protective therapies. The goal is to discover effective treatments that can reduce brain damage and improve the long-term health and development of these infants.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research focuses on extremely premature infants, specifically those born before 28 weeks' gestation, who are at high risk for brain injury.
Not a fit: Patients who were not born extremely prematurely or who do not have acquired brain injury related to preterm birth would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new treatments that reduce brain injury and improve the long-term health and development of extremely premature infants.
How similar studies have performed: The project uses established models and builds on preliminary data showing injury patterns and behavioral changes consistent with those seen in human preterm infants, suggesting a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nance, Elizabeth a — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Nance, Elizabeth a
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 below.