Sleep, pain, and recovery after pediatric intensive care
Official title: Sleep, pain, and recovery in kids after pediatric intensive care (SPARK-PICU)
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11376991 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how pain and sleep problems affect kids after PICU stay and what could help them recover better at home and in school.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $701,176 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL174653-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11376991 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children who survived a PICU hospitalization and are within the pediatric age range, particularly those experiencing or at risk for pain and sleep disturbances.
✕Less likely to help
Children without post-PICU pain or sleep disturbances or those not followed long enough to observe outcomes may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
Many children survive PICU stays each year, but we still don’t fully understand how they recover over time. The study looks at pain, sleep, and cognitive challenges that can appear months or years after discharge, with the goal of finding modifiable factors that improve long-term outcomes. Researchers will follow pediatric survivors to identify risk factors and potential targets for intervention that could support better executive function and academic achievement. The aim is to translate findings into practical steps that families and clinicians can use to support recovery. The work is led by Oregon Health & Science University and focuses on children who have experienced critical care in the pediatric period.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new strategies to reduce pain and sleep problems after PICU care and improve cognitive and academic outcomes for children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that addressing pain and sleep can improve long-term outcomes in some pediatric populations, but this project targets post-PICU recovery, which is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Cydni Nicole — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Williams, Cydni Nicole
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Phthalate Exposure and How It Affects Newborns in the NICU
This grant looks at how chemicals called phthalates in the NICU environment may affect the health and development of newborns, especially those born prematurely.
-
Pediatric ICU Sedation and Brain Recovery after Injury
This grant studies how sedation given in the pediatric ICU affects short- and long-term brain recovery in children who have suffered brain injuries.
-
Improving care for opioid use disorder in the ICU
This project helps hospital staff in intensive care units provide better care for patients with opioid use disorder.
-
Ownership of private-equity owned neonatal care and its effect on NICU outcomes
This project will look at how private-equity ownership of neonatal care groups and hospitals relates to how newborns fare in the NICU, with a focus on U.S. practices.
-
Juggling Work and Family for Parents of Very Preterm Babies
A study to understand how work and family demands affect parents of very preterm infants and how this shapes their ability to support their baby’s development.
-
Implementing SDOH screening and referrals in the NICU to support fragile newborns
A NICU-based program to screen newborns and families for social needs and connect them to services that can improve health and development.
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.