Premature babies and children
This is a list of conditions we currently have research studies for. Click to reveal more.
Feeding in babies who are born premature.
The research study is looking at whether routinely measuring gastric residual volumes (checking what is in the stomach before feeding) helps babies safely get to full feeds quickly.
Who can take part?
All babies who are born 6 or more weeks early who need tube feeding will be included in the study unless parents opt out. Parents will be given a study leaflet for consideration prior to the baby being enrolled on the research study. This is an opt out research study.
What is involved?
The research study will compare two ways of caring for babies having tube feeds, both ways are part of routine care, and both are commonly used in neonatal units across the UK and Australia. All eligible babies will be included unless parents / carers wish to opt out.
You will be approached by the nurses or doctors and / or the research nurses.
Please also ask the doctors and nurses looking after your baby if you would like to know more.
More information
Please visit the study website [external] for more information.
Premature babies (build up of acid levels in blood)
The BASE study is looking at the use of a medicine called sodium bicarbonate in preterm babies in metabolic acidosis. Metabolic acidosis is a build up of acid in the blood.
What is the study about?
The study is looking at the use of a medicine called sodium bicarbonate in preterm babies in metabolic acidosis. This is when the blood PH drops and there is a build up of acid in the blood which can occur when a baby is unwell.
Who can take part?
Parents of babies born 23-30+6 weeks gestation will be given an information leaflet.
What is involved
If a parent gives verbal consent for the study and the baby has an episode of metabolic
acidosis. Babies will be allocated to be given, either a medicine called sodium bicarbonate or
not be given the sodium bicarbonate, depending on which arm of the study that the baby is
allocated. Other than this, all aspects of their care will be exactly the same as routine care,
including treating any known causes of metabolic acidosis.
If the baby is allocated to be not given sodium bicarbonate. Sodium bicarbonate can be given
if the clinician feels that it is appropriate. Some babies may not go on to develop metabolic
acidosis, therefore will not be included in the research study, even if parents had verbally
consented.
There is no payment for taking part in the study. However, when the trial centre send a
questionnaire when your baby is 2 years old. You will be sent a £15 high street voucher to
compensate you for your time.
How do I take part?
Parents will be approached by the nurses or doctors and / or the research nurses.
Please also ask the doctors and nurses looking after your baby, if you would like to know more.
Tell me more
For more information visit the study website.
Preterm babies end of life care
The ENHANCE study is a survey of parents’/guardians’ experiences of end of life care for their baby or child aged 0-18 years
Who can take part?
Parents of preterm babies who have passed away.
More information
For more information visit study website.
Feeding premature babies - FEED1
Who can take part?
Newly-diagnosed diabetes
What is the study about?
To further understand the development and progression of type 1 diabetes and to establish a resource to facilitate type 1 diabetes research.
Who can take part?
Newly diagnosed diabetic children aged 1-16 years of age, within 6 months of diagnosis.
Siblings of newly diagnosed patients.
What is involved
One outpatient visit or telephone consultation which can take up to an hour.
Blood sample from the child with diabetes, which can be obtained during collection of the annual bloods.
There will be reimbursement for travel and parking, should you be asked to come to the hospital to speak to the research team.
Tell me more
Please visit the study dedicated website:
Address2 [external]
How do I take part?
Please contact your local diabetes consultant or the Paediatric diabetes specialist nurse at the hospital who will contact the research team at the hospital.
Chronic lung disease in pre-term babies
What is the study about?
Whether the use of a mouth spray vs a placebo (dummy medicine spray) could potentially reduce the occurrence of chest conditions in babies who are discharged from the neonatal unit for the first year.
Who can take part?
Babies born very preterm below 30 weeks, who live on the Wirral.
What is involved
- Parents of pre term babies who reach 36 weeks will be approached on the neonatal unit
- Parents who consent to the study will need to administer 2 sprays of medicine called Bactek or placebo into the babies mouth everyday for a year from starting the study
- Parents or the research/clinical team will not know if the baby is on the medication or placebo. This will be revealed at the end of the study
- Swabs will be taken when the baby is unwell
- Parents will have monthly contact with the research nurses for the duration of the study
- Parents will have the use of an app to report respiratory illness
How do I take part?
You will be approached by the nurses or doctors and/ or the research nurses.
Please also ask the doctors and nurses looking after your baby if you would like to know more.
Genes and how they affect preterm babies health
What is the study about?
GenOMICC is a research study that is trying to find out how genes can affect preterm babies health, particularly looking at the likelihood of developing chronic lung disease.
The research study can help us to develop better treatments for other patients in the future
Who can take part?
Babies who are < 32 weeks old
What is involved?
Blood sample will be taken from the baby at the same time as their usual collection of blood.
We will use the sample to analyse your baby’s DNA which could include the whole sequence of their genome. Your genome is the ‘instruction manual’ that contains the information needed to make, run and repair everything in the body.
How do I take part?
Parents will be approached by the nurses or doctors and/ or the research nurses.
Please also ask the doctors and nurses looking after your baby, if you would like to know more.
Tell me more
Visit dedicated website: https://genomicc.org/participants/ [external]