Two treatment approaches for severe head injuries in children in Latin America
Official title: Pediatric Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Latin America – A Randomized Trial Comparing Two Management Protocols
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11399631 · Data updated 2026-11-12
It compares care guided by pressure monitors inside the skull to care guided by scans and exams for children and teens with severe head injuries.
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 | August 1, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $532,694 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HD106273-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399631 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents with severe traumatic brain injury who are admitted to one of the participating pediatric ICUs in Latin America are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
This trial likely would not apply to older adults, people with mild or moderate head injuries, or children treated outside the participating sites.
What this research studies
Children with severe traumatic brain injury admitted to seven pediatric intensive care units in Latin America are enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two treatment approaches. One approach uses intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring to guide treatment, and the other uses aggressive management based on imaging and clinical exams without ICP monitors. Doctors follow standardized protocols, track recovery, complications, and survival, and collect outcome information over time. Results aim to show which approach leads to better long-term function and fewer harms for children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors pick the safer, more effective way to manage severe brain injuries in children and improve recovery and long-term outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: A prior adult randomized trial found no clear outcome difference for ICP-guided care, so the pediatric trial addresses whether children respond differently; the approach is partly tested in adults but unproven in children.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chesnut, Randall M — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Chesnut, Randall M
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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.