Why low-oxygen episodes in very premature babies can cause memory problems
Official title: Mechanisms of hypoxia-mediated memory impairment in an animal model of acute respiratory failure in preterm survivors
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11166447 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores whether a brief low-oxygen event around birth changes how hippocampus cells mature and leads to lasting learning and memory problems in babies born very early.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $605,558 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS138147-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11166447 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This is an animal-focused laboratory project using mouse models and does not enroll human participants or patients.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with established severe brain injuries, cerebral palsy, or conditions unrelated to neonatal hypoxia are unlikely to directly benefit from this animal-based research.
What this research studies
Researchers use a preterm-equivalent mouse model that mimics a single mild low-oxygen episode that very premature infants can experience. They will examine neuron shape, spine density, gene activity, synaptic strength, and electrical excitability in the hippocampus using advanced microscopy and electrophysiology, and test memory with behavioral fear-conditioning. The team will check whether these changes happen without clear cell death, white matter injury, or inflammation. The goal is to identify cellular changes that could explain the persistent learning and memory difficulties seen in some children born very preterm.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to biological targets or critical timing for therapies to prevent memory and learning problems in children born very preterm.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal work and the investigators' preliminary data suggest brief neonatal hypoxia can alter hippocampal development and behavior, but translating these findings into effective human treatments remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Back, Stephen Arthur — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Back, Stephen Arthur
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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.