Understanding how body position affects infant breathing and safety

Quantifying the effect of biomechanical SUID risk factors on infant respiration

NIH-funded research Boise State University · NIH-11129614

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBoise State University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boise, United States)
Project IDNIH-11129614 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: 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.

Not a fit: Patients who are older than 12 months or those who do not have risk factors associated with SUID may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: 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, 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.