Multisensory Interventions to Improve Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Preterm Infants Hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Lab: NICU ⟩ Cluster: Brain Function, Recovery, Neurorehabilitation, and Participation ⟩

Principal Investigator: Bobbi Pineda PhD, OTR/L, CNT

Co-Investigator: Grace Baranek PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA ; Amit Mathur, Paula Buchanan, Stacey Dusing, Wendy Mack

Project Coordinators: Polly Kellner MSOT, OTR/L ; Tara Crapnell, Amanda Creibahm

Project Clinicians: Bailey Valentine (OT), Kayli Antonoff (OT), Karen Lukas (RN), Nathalie El Ters (MD)

Consultants: Terrie Inder, Julie Hoffheimer, Bradley Schlaggar

Trainee: Alialani Yamafuji

Period
Sep 2022 – Aug 2027

Total funding
$3,355,182

During hospitalization in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), premature infants repeatedly experience negative sensory experiences. Evidence suggests that combined with prematurity, experiences in the NICU environment are disruptive to neurodevelopment. The Supporting and Enhancing NICU Sensory Experiences (SENSE) Program is designed to ameliorate these negative experiences through the promotion of tailored and age-appropriate positive sensory experiences between parents and their infants. The feasibility, efficacy, and adaptability of the SENSE program have been established through previous projects. This project is a randomized control trial, with the goal to determine the impact of the SENSE program on neonatal neurobehavioral outcomes, including electrocortical activity trajectories.

Funding

Type	Source	Number	Amount
Federal	NIH / National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)	R01 HD105557	$3,355,182

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