Understanding how nutrition affects gut health in premature infants
Official title: Nutritional and clinical predictors of intestinal maturation and feeding tolerance in the preterm infant
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11132695 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how nutrition and health affect the gut development and feeding tolerance of very premature babies, with the hope of finding ways to better support their growth and prevent serious gut issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $679,741 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD112396-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132695 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are very preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation who are at risk for feeding intolerance.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not preterm or who do not exhibit feeding intolerance may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the nutritional and clinical factors that influence gut maturation and feeding tolerance in very preterm infants. By analyzing a cohort of 400 infants, the study aims to identify biomarkers that can differentiate between normal gut development and serious conditions like necrotizing enterocolitis. The approach involves non-invasive methods to assess interactions between gut cells and the microbiome, providing insights into how these factors affect feeding tolerance. The ultimate goal is to improve nutritional support strategies for these vulnerable infants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better nutritional guidelines and interventions that enhance feeding tolerance and reduce the risk of serious complications in preterm infants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in identifying biomarkers for gut health in preterm infants, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Donovan, Sharon Marie — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Donovan, Sharon Marie
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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.