Understanding and addressing racism in neonatal intensive care units

Revealing and Resolving Institutional Racism in the NICU

NIH-funded research Stanford University · NIH-11009546

This study is looking at how care for very low birth weight babies can be different in certain hospitals, especially when it comes to feeding them breast milk before they go home, and it aims to help these hospitals work together to improve care for all babies.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStanford University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stanford, United States)
Project IDNIH-11009546 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the disparities in care and outcomes for very low birth weight infants in safety net newborn intensive care units (snNICUs). It aims to identify the organizational features that contribute to differences in care quality, particularly focusing on breast milk feeding rates at discharge. By leveraging data from the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, the project will create a peer learning network among snNICUs to improve care delivery and reduce disparities. The approach includes a collaborative quality improvement initiative to enhance performance across these units.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are very low birth weight infants born in safety net NICUs.

Not a fit: Patients who are not very low birth weight infants or those not treated in safety net NICUs may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved care and outcomes for very low birth weight infants in safety net NICUs.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that collaborative quality improvement initiatives can successfully enhance care delivery in neonatal settings, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Where this research is happening

Stanford, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.