Two volumes of human milk to support growth and gut health in very preterm babies
Official title: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Two Human Milk Volumes to Optimize Growth and Gut Health in Infants Born Very Preterm
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11416356 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A multicenter trial will compare two amounts of human milk given to very preterm infants to see which supports better growth and gut health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $419,280 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD117932-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416356 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Very preterm infants (27–31 weeks gestation) fed human milk exclusively and enrolled within participating centers.
✕Less likely to help
Infants not meeting inclusion criteria or those with conditions requiring alternative feeding strategies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This study will enroll very preterm babies born between 27 and 31 weeks and randomly assign them to receive either a lower or higher volume of human milk. Researchers will track growth, body composition, and fat versus lean mass as the babies reach term-equivalent age. The study will also examine how different milk volumes influence the developing gut microbiome. The findings could guide feeding guidelines to optimize long-term health for extremely preterm infants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could inform feeding practices that promote healthier growth and metabolism for very preterm infants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials have not yet compared two distinct human milk volumes in this population, making this an important and relatively novel investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Salas, Ariel — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Salas, Ariel
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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.