Protecting Premature Babies' Brains
Official title: Combinatorial Neuroprotective Strategies for Preterm Brain Injury
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11126054 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $537,786 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD111440-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11126054 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research focuses on extremely premature infants, specifically those born before 28 weeks' gestation, who are at high risk for brain injury.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nance, Elizabeth a — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Nance, Elizabeth a
Related research
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Combinatorial neuroprotective strategies for preterm brain injury in youth
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How fatty acids change after newborn brain injury
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Researchers are testing whether blocking the blood protein fibrinogen can protect the developing cerebellum of preterm infants after brain hemorrhage.
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Brain injury risks in preterm newborns with congenital heart disease
This grant studies how being born preterm with congenital heart disease affects brain development and injury, to help improve outcomes for affected babies.
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.