Understanding how sleep apnea treatment changes outcomes in kids using a brain imaging approach
Official title: A mechanistic understanding of treatment-related outcomes of sleep disordered breathing using functional near infrared spectroscopy
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11291803 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant aims to learn how removing the tonsils and adenoids affects sleep and behavior in children with sleep disordered breathing by watching brain activity patterns.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $582,192 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL167012-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11291803 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged roughly 5 to 15 with sleep disordered breathing being considered for tonsil/adenoid removal.
✕Less likely to help
Children with mild or resolving SDB or those unlikely to benefit from AT may not experience improvement.
What this research studies
If a child has sleep disordered breathing, this project uses a noninvasive brain imaging method to explore how AT surgery might improve thinking, behavior, and quality of life. The study focuses on 5- to 15-year-olds and investigates brain regions involved in attention and executive function to find clues about who benefits most. Results could help doctors predict which children will gain the most from surgery and reduce unnecessary procedures. Participation would involve standard clinical care plus imaging sessions and follow-up assessments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better matching of children to the most helpful treatment, potentially improving behavior and school performance after AT surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows brain function changes after AT, but a predictive model and mechanism remain to be established.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Isaiah, Amal — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Isaiah, Amal
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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.