Using zinc supplements to help young infants with severe infections in Tanzania
Official title: Trial of Zinc Supplements for Young Infants with Clinical Severe Infection in Tanzania
Funded at Harvard School of Public Health · NIH-11031971 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether giving zinc supplements along with regular antibiotics can help young babies in Tanzania who are in the hospital with serious infections, and it aims to find a simple way to improve their chances of recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | February 17, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $598,067 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI175348-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11031971 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Tanzanian infants aged 0-59 days who are hospitalized with clinical severe infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not hospitalized or are older than 59 days may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of zinc supplementation alongside standard antibiotic treatment for young infants hospitalized with severe infections in Tanzania. The study will enroll 3,250 infants aged 0-59 days and randomly assign them to receive either zinc supplements or a placebo for 14 days. Researchers will monitor the infants for 90 days to evaluate their survival rates and treatment outcomes, while also collecting biological samples to understand how zinc may enhance treatment effectiveness. The goal is to find a low-cost intervention that can improve health outcomes for these vulnerable patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce mortality and improve treatment outcomes for young infants suffering from severe infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that zinc supplementation can have beneficial effects in treating infections, making this approach promising yet still requiring validation in this specific context.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard School of Public Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sudfeld, Christopher — Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Sudfeld, Christopher
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.