PREMATURE BIRTH

This study looks at whether giving pregnant people at risk of preterm birth a single, half-sized dose of a steroid called Celestone works as well as the standard two-dose regimen to prevent serious health problems in newborns. About 3,250 participants will be randomly assigned to…

This study tests whether placing a stitch (cerclage) in the cervix can lower the chance of preterm birth in pregnant people with a short cervix (≤25mm) detected between 24-26 weeks. About 329 participants will be randomly assigned to receive the stitch or standard care. The main …

This study looks at whether using an air purifier at home can help preterm babies (born before 37 weeks) breathe better and develop healthier lungs. About 180 babies will have their oxygen and carbon dioxide levels checked with and without the purifier. Researchers will also trac…

This study tests whether adding azithromycin to the standard antibiotic ampicillin can reduce serious health problems in newborns when a mother's water breaks early (between 34 and 37 weeks of pregnancy). About 311 women will receive either ampicillin alone or ampicillin plus azi…

This study tests whether giving surfactant (a lung medicine) through a thin tube instead of a breathing tube helps premature babies with respiratory distress survive. About 1,500 babies weighing 1.5 to 4.4 pounds will receive this less invasive treatment in African hospitals that…

This study tests whether a gentle nerve stimulation (taVNS) given during breastfeeding can help premature or sick newborns learn to breastfeed more effectively. Ten infants in the NICU will receive daily stimulation paired with feeding for up to 14 days. Researchers will measure …

This study looks at whether extra support from a doula—both in the hospital and after going home—can help mothers of premature babies feel less stressed, depressed, or anxious. About 20 English-speaking mothers whose babies were born before 34 weeks will take part. The goal is to…

This study tests whether special mouth exercises and a feeding schedule based on the baby's natural body clock help preterm infants (born at 29-33 weeks) learn to feed by mouth, gain weight, and transition to full oral feeding faster. About 54 stable preterm babies will take part…

This study is testing a special camera (Mueller polarimetric colposcopy) to see if it can measure changes in the cervix during pregnancy. The goal is to find patterns that could help predict if a baby will be born early (preterm). Researchers will study 683 pregnant women, both w…

This study creates a registry to collect information on extremely premature infants (born at 22-23 weeks) and their mothers. Researchers will track what treatments are used and how babies fare, without testing any new drug or device. The goal is to understand current practices an…

This study tests whether a virtual version of the Abecedarian Approach—a proven early learning program—works as well as in-person care for children aged 0-5 who had a brain injury at birth (HIE) or were born very early (before 28 weeks). About 225 families in rural areas will par…

This study tests a special pacifier that plays a mother's voice when a preterm baby sucks on it. The goal is to see if this helps babies born early learn to tell different speech sounds apart, which could improve their language development. About 200 preterm infants in the NICU w…

This study looks at how being born moderately early (32-36 weeks) affects the way babies' brains process speech sounds and learn words. Researchers will measure brain activity using EEG while babies listen to syllables, and track their vocabulary growth over time. The goal is to …

This study aims to understand how air pollution impacts pregnancy, specifically the risk of preterm birth. Researchers will use artificial intelligence to analyze health records of up to 200,000 pregnant women in London, combined with local pollution data. The goal is to create a…

This study is building a large collection of health information and biological samples from very preterm infants (born before 32 weeks or weighing less than 1500 grams). Researchers will follow these children for years to identify factors that influence their development and long…

This study looks at how babies' brains develop after an injury around birth. Researchers will use fun games and brain wave tests (EEG) to see if they can predict which children might have trouble with thinking and memory later. About 100 babies, both healthy and those with brain …

This study aims to improve how doctors talk with families when a baby may be born extremely early (between 22 and 25 weeks of pregnancy). Researchers will train doctors in communication skills and then ask parents about their knowledge, satisfaction, and anxiety after counseling.…

This study tests a tool called Periviable GOALS that helps parents and doctors make decisions together when a baby might be born extremely early (22-25 weeks). About 300 pregnant adults facing this situation will use the tool or receive standard care. The goal is to see if the to…

This study looks at how a pregnant woman's body handles caffeine and how much passes to her baby before delivery. About 30 women at risk for preterm birth will receive a small dose of caffeine, and blood samples from the mother, placenta, and newborn will be measured. The goal is…

This study is a patient registry for women whose water breaks too early (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), a condition called PPROM. Researchers will collect information from 3,000 participants to better understand what causes PPROM, how it is managed, and what happens to mothers an…