Research : Northern Neonatal Network

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
INDIGO

An overview of some of the research studies and presentations can be found on the Neonatal Research website.

Ongoing Research

Babies born preterm commonly have a condition called Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). This is when the blood vessel (Ductus arteriosus, which allows during pregnancy, blood to bypass the baby’s developing lungs and reach the mother’s placenta, remains open after birth. The word ‘patent’ here means ‘open’. A PDA is associated with many very serious and life-threatening complications which can include brain damage and chronic breathing difficulties. The condition can be treated with ibuprofen, but giving extremely preterm babies can result in significant complications. Medical opinion is therefore divided on how best to care for extremely preterm babies with a PDA. In Baby Oscar, Babies will be randomly allocated to receive either treatment with ibuprofen or a matched placebo. Information will be collected about if/when the PDA closes and other health outcomes.

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A research study designed to test whether giving lactoferrin, a naturally occurring milk protein (often used as a food supplement), to babies born very early can help to protect them against infections and other serious illnesses during their stay in hospital.

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The ELFIN study will tell us whether lactoferrin is a useful treatment for preterm babies. If lactoferrin is useful it might work in different ways. For example, it might work by increasing the number of ‘healthy bacteria’ or by affecting how the immune system works. The MAGPIE study aims to find out how lactoferrin might work.

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Research

Ongoing Research

More For Health Professionals

Palliative Care

Audit and Research

The Northern Neonatal Network gives specialist and intensive neonatal care to babies born in the North East and Cumbria.