The WHEAT International Trial:
WithHolding Enteral (Milk) feeds Around blood Transfusion
Who is it for? We are including all eligible babies that are born before 30 weeks of pregnancy to take part in this study, unless parents state they do not wish to take part.
Why? The WHEAT International Trial is comparing two different practices, both of which are already common in Neonatal Units across Canada and the UK including Leicester.
Aim? To determine which practice is a better: withholding milk feeds for a few hours around blood transfusion or to continuing milk feeds around blood transfusion. The WHEAT trial will work out whether one of these two practices will reduce incidence of Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC) and other adverse clinical outcomes before babies are discharged from Neonatal care.
To find out more: contact your baby's Neonatal consultant or email the NeoNatal Research Team or visit the WHEAT study website
DOLFIN Study
Who is it for? This study is for babies who are-
Born extremely preterm under 28 weeks
Or
Born 35 weeks AND receiving cooling therapy
(whose brain did not receive enough oxygen and/or blood flow around the time of birth)
Why? The DOLFIN trial is a research study looking at whether or not giving a specially developed nutritional supplement via breast or formula milk for the first year of life helps with brain development. If the study tells us the supplement is effective, it might be given to babies as part of future NHS care.
Aim? This study is designed to test whether adding a daily nutrient supplement (food substance) to the normal milk and weaning foods of babies born very early can help improve their brain development, and their neurological child development (such as how they think, communicate, play and interact with others).
This study is being implemented by NHS Doctors and Dieticians from Newcastle and Oxford, together with local NHS teams from across the UK including Leicester.
To find out more: contact your baby's Neonatal consultant or email the NeoNatal Research Team
POLAR trial Study
Who is it for? Babies born extremely preterm 23-28+6 weeks that will require their breathing to be supported immediately after delivery
Why? The lungs of preterm babies will often collapse between each breath. To help with this, nearly all preterm babies receive a treatment called positive end-expiratory pressure, or PEEP.
This is where gentle pressure is applied to a baby’s lungs between breaths to prevent their lungs from collapsing after each breath, which in turn allows the baby to feel more comfortable and able to start breathing for themselves.
Aim? To investigate whether adjusting the pressure (PEEP) during the initial stabilisation following birth, results in babies needing less breathing support in intensive care, and hence, reduced rates of chronic lung disease.
This study has been initiated by Investigators located in Australia, the Netherlands, and the USA, and is being conducted across several hospitals in Europe and in the UK, including Leicester.
To find out more: contact your baby's Neonatal consultant or email the NeoNatal Research Team or visit the POLAR Trial website
SurfON
Who is it for? Babies born between 34-38+6 weeks gestation who are showing signs of respiratory distress within the first 24 hours of life and require non-invasive respiratory support.
Why? Respiratory disease is the most common for late preterm/early term babies to require admission to the neonatal unit. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is due to lung immaturity and the deficiency of surfactant.
The decision to administer surfactant or whether to use the “wait and see” approach is currently at the clinician’s discretion as both are considered acceptable.
This aim of this study is to define the most clinically effective and cost effective approach to early respiratory management within these gestations.
To find out more: contact your baby's Neonatal consultant or email the NeoNatal Research Team
or view the SurfON website
We may have other studies for new-born babies or babies in the neonatal unit, which we haven’t listed here.
Please ask your Doctor about research that may be suitable for you or your baby.
#BePartOfResearch
