Understanding how body position affects infant breathing and safety
Official title: Quantifying the effect of biomechanical SUID risk factors on infant respiration
Funded at Boise State University · NIH-11129614 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how different body positions and baby products can affect how infants breathe, aiming to help parents and caregivers keep babies safe and reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant death.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boise State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boise, United States) |
| Project start | July 3, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $540,549 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD113921-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11129614 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include infants aged 1 to 12 months, particularly those at risk for SUID due to their sleeping environment or body position.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 12 months or those who do not have risk factors associated with SUID may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of various biomechanical factors on infant respiration, particularly focusing on how body position and interactions with infant products can contribute to sudden unexpected infant death (SUID). By employing a multidisciplinary approach, the study will utilize both in vivo experiments and computational modeling to quantify the relationship between these factors and respiratory health in infants. The goal is to provide evidence-based guidance for parents, clinicians, and manufacturers to improve infant safety and reduce mortality rates associated with SUID.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved safety guidelines for infant care, potentially reducing the incidence of SUID.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been research on SUID, this approach using biomechanics as a foundational science is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Boise State University
Boise, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mannen, Erin — Boise State University
- Study coordinator: Mannen, Erin
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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.