NIH-funded research Sbir 2 grant

Skincubator: wearable incubator to boost skin-to-skin care for very preterm babies

Official title: Effects of Early Prolonged Skin-to-Skin Care Within the Skincubator in Very Preterm and Extremely Preterm Infants

Funded at Skincubator Neocare INC. · NIH-11409036 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A new wearable incubator aims to help extremely preterm babies receive longer, warmer skin-to-skin contact with their caregivers.

More Preterm research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 2 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSkincubator Neocare INC.
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Dallas, United States)
Project startSeptember 20, 2026
Project endMay 31, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$313,951
NIH project number1R44HD122606-01
Project IDNIH-11409036 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Very preterm and extremely preterm infants and their families who are eligible for skin-to-skin care in hospital settings.

Less likely to help

Infants who do not require or cannot safely participate in extended skin-to-skin care may not benefit.

What this research studies

This project seeks regulatory clearance and clinical validation for the Skincubator, a wearable device designed to enable extended skin-to-skin care for babies born very preterm. It includes randomized trials to show increased SSC time and potential improvements in feeding and neurodevelopment, along with plans for FDA clearance and large‑scale manufacturing. The work focuses on real babies in clinical settings and emphasizes safe use with ventilated infants and temperature/humidity control. Initial results suggested better thermoregulation during skin-to-skin contact with the Skincubator versus traditional methods, and ongoing feasibility studies are expanding the evidence base.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the Skincubator could help more preterm infants receive longer, safer skin-to-skin care, potentially improving feeding and neurodevelopment.

How similar studies have gone: Previous safety trials showed favorable thermoregulation; this project is expanding to efficacy and regulatory clearance.

Where this research is happening

  • Skincubator Neocare INC.
    Dallas, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Metrikin-Gold, Alon — Skincubator Neocare INC.
  • Study coordinator: Metrikin-Gold, Alon

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
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Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.