Simple feeding pause could save preemie lives

NCT ID NCT05213806

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This large international trial tests whether temporarily stopping milk feeds around the time of a blood transfusion can prevent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a severe gut infection, in very premature babies (born before 30 weeks). Over 4,000 infants in Canada and the UK will be randomly assigned to either have feeds paused or continued during transfusions. The goal is to see which approach reduces the risk of NEC and death.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

withholding enteral feeds around blood transfusion

What this could lead to

If it works, this simple change in care could prevent a life-threatening gut disease in thousands of premature babies each year.

What could go wrong

This is a large trial, but the approach is already used in some hospitals, so the difference between groups may be small. Also, withholding feeds might have its own risks for fragile infants.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Premature Birth necrotizing enterocolitis prevention target

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    RECRUITING

    Barnsley, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Barts Health NHS Trust (3 Hospitals: Royal London Hospital, Whipps Cross Hospital, Newham General Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    London, UK, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Luton & Dunstable University Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Luton, UK, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (Glan Cwyd Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Wales, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust (Birmingham Women's Hospital NICU)

    RECRUITING

    Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Bradford Royal Infirmary)

    RECRUITING

    Bradford, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (Stoke Mandeville Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Aylesbury, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (Calderdale Royal Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Halifax, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Chelsea and Westminster Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    London, UK, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • East Kent University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (William Harvey Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Ashford, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • East and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust - Colchester Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Colchester, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • East and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust - Ipswich Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Ipswich, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Gloucestershire Royal Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Gloucester, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • IWK Health

    RECRUITING

    Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3K 6R8, Canada

    Contact

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (2 Hospitals: St Mary's Hospital & Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    London, UK, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Royal Preston Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Preston, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (Leeds General Infirmary & St James' University Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Leeds, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Liverpool Women's Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Liverpool, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (2 Hospitals: St Mary's Hospital - Oxford Road, North Manchester General)

    RECRUITING

    Manchester, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (Wythenshawe)

    RECRUITING

    Manchester, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Medway Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit, Medway Maritime Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Gillingham, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • NHS Tayside (Ninewells Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Dundee, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Norwich, England, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • North Bristol NHS Trust (Southmead Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Bristol, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • North West Anglia NHS Trust (Peterborough City Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Peterborough, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • North West London NHS Trust (Northwick Park Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    London, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (2 Hospitals: City Hospital, Queen's Medical Centre)

    RECRUITING

    Nottingham, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Oxford University Hospitals NHS FT (John Radcliffe Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Oxford, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Portsmouth University Hospitals NHS Trust (Queen Alexandra Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Portsmouth, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (New Cross Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Hillingdon Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Hillingdon, UK, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Royal Victoria Infirmary)

    RECRUITING

    Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • The Shrewsbury & Telford Hospitals NHS Trust (Royal Shrewsbury Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Shrewsbury, United Kingdom

    Contact

  • University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust (University Hospital Coventry)

    RECRUITING

    Coventry, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (Southampton General Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Southampton, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust (2 Hospitals: Heartland's Hospital & Good Hope Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust (Royal Derby Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Derby, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (Leicester Royal Infirmary)

    RECRUITING

    Leicester, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust (Walsall Manor Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Walsall, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust (Watford General Hospital)

    RECRUITING

    Watford, United Kingdom

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••