Could a simple shot boost premature babies' brain power?

NCT ID NCT03169881

First seen Nov 17, 2025 · Last updated May 24, 2026 · Updated 27 times

Summary

This study tested whether giving premature babies a drug called darbepoetin (Darbe) weekly soon after birth could improve their brain development and reduce the need for blood transfusions. The trial included 650 very preterm infants born between 23 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Researchers compared their thinking and learning skills at 22-26 months old against babies who received a placebo.

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Brown University - Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island

    Providence, Rhode Island, 02905, United States

  • Case Western Reserve University, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital

    Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States

  • Cincinnati Children's Medical Center

    Cincinnati, Ohio, 45267, United States

  • Duke University

    Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States

  • Emory University

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30303, United States

  • RTI International

    Durham, North Carolina, 27705, United States

  • Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital

    Columbus, Ohio, 43205, United States

  • Stanford University

    Palo Alto, California, 94304, United States

  • Univeristy of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham

    Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States

  • University of Iowa

    Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, United States

  • University of New Mexico

    Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131, United States

  • University of Rochester

    Rochester, New York, 14642, United States

  • University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

    Dallas, Texas, 75235, United States

  • University of Utah

    Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108, United States

Conditions

Explore the condition pages connected to this study.