The care of preterm babies is a rapidly changing and developing field. Outcomes for preterm and sick infants have improved dramatically over the past two decades. Research has been one of the main drivers for this improvement, following the development of new treatments and interventions to improve the care we give to our babies. As a network, we participate in national and international trials as well as develop research studies within the region.
Current research studies ongoing within the region are:
- ELFIN: A multi-centre randomised placebo-controlled trial of prophylactic enteral supplementation with bovine lactoferrin to prevent late-onset invasive infection in very preterm or very low birth weight infants.
- MAGPIE: Mechanisms Affecting the Gut of Preterm Infants in Enteral Feeding Studies.
- Baby Oscar: a study to find out whether or not a confirmed large Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) in very premature babies should be treated with ibuprofen within 72 hours of birth.
- BPSU: The study team aim to describe the incidence of life-threatening BPD of prematurity, describe the antecedent factors, current treatment choices used in the UK and Ireland (including a description of the support mechanisms in terms of respiratory support alternatives) and describe the outcomes (to one year) for life-threatening BPD of prematurity.
- SERVIS: The study includes lots of different aspects important to the care of preterm babies. We will be adding more detail over the next few months.
- MARINAC: Magnetic Resonance in Infection-Primed Neonatal Encephalopathy and N-acetyl cysteine.
- Great North Neonatal Bank: The efficacy and safety of very low dose dexamethasone used to facilitate the extubation of ventilator-dependent preterm babies who are at high risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
- INDIGO
An overview of some of the research studies and presentations can be found on the Neonatal Research website.
