Understanding how NICU room changes affect babies and families
Official title: Identifying and Mitigating Health Disparities Following a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Design Change from Open Bay to Single Family Rooms
Funded at North Carolina Agri & Tech St Univ · NIH-11099964 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how changing NICU rooms from open spaces to private family rooms affects the health of babies and the experiences of their families, especially focusing on differences among various racial and income groups.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina Agri & Tech St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Greensboro, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $142,240 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM145585-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11099964 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project focuses on understanding the experiences of neonates and their families who have received care in NICUs transitioning from open-bay to single family rooms, particularly those from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving care in a NICU, or those whose NICU experience did not involve a recent transition from open-bay to single family rooms, would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are changing from large open rooms to private family rooms where parents can stay with their baby. This project wants to understand if these new private rooms truly help all families equally, or if some families, particularly those with lower incomes or from certain racial backgrounds, face challenges that prevent them from fully benefiting. We are collecting information from a hospital that recently made this change to see how it affected babies' health and parents' experiences. Our goal is to find ways to make sure all families receive the best possible care, regardless of their background.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help NICUs design spaces and support programs that ensure all families, especially those facing economic or transportation challenges, can fully benefit from private room settings.
How similar studies have gone: The existing literature provides mixed evidence on the impact of NICU design changes, indicating a need for further investigation into specific outcomes and disparities.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina Agri & Tech St Univ
Greensboro, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Teixeira-Poit, Stephanie — North Carolina Agri & Tech St Univ
- Study coordinator: Teixeira-Poit, Stephanie
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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.