Saliva test could personalize care for Opioid-Affected newborns
NCT ID NCT05937594
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looks at tiny molecules called microRNAs in the saliva of newborns exposed to opioids before birth. Researchers want to see if these molecules can predict how severe withdrawal symptoms will be and guide treatment. The goal is to move away from one-size-fits-all care and toward personalized medicine for babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Fifty infants will be enrolled to measure microRNA levels and track their development.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to a simple saliva test to help doctors tailor treatment for each baby with opioid withdrawal, potentially reducing hospital stays and improving development.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study focused on finding biomarkers, not testing a treatment. The results may not lead to immediate changes in care or apply to all babies.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 50 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jan 2020
- Expected to finish
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Apr 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Infants enrolled into the study were exposed to opiates in-utero for at least one month of gestation. All infants enrolled meet the eligibility criteria listed above.
- Ages
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1 day to 5 days
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Newborns ≥35weeks gestation with chronic in-utero opioid exposure (\>1month of gestation exposure). Maternal exposure will be determined by evaluating the medical records for maternal medication use, maternal urine toxicology and neonatal meconium toxicology results per standard clinical care * Neonates born at Penn State Hershey Medical Center or transferred at \<48 hours after birth * Mothers with chronic in-utero opioid use during pregnancy ( ≥1month of gestation) Exclusion Criteria: * \<35 week gestation * Infant required mechanical ventilation or non-invasive mechanical support * Infant exposure to magnesium sulfate * Opioid-exposed neonates who are actively receiving dextrose infusion for persistent neonatal hypoglycemia at the time of enrollment (\<48hours after birth). * Infant with major congenital anomalies * Parent or guardian unable to provide consent * Mothers and neonates without history of opioid exposure/dependence
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
RECRUITINGHershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- New model aims to treat opioid use disorder in mothers right at their baby's hospital bedside
- Could a quicker wean reduce opioid exposure in newborns?
- Could a simple formula change help babies born dependent on opioids gain weight better?
- New hope for pregnant women battling opioid addiction: monthly shot vs daily pill
- New device could spot opioid withdrawal in newborns faster
- Opioid treatment in pregnancy: which form is safer for Baby's brain?