Clinical Research Directory

Triple EIT (Electrical Impedance Tomography)

This study plans to learn more about ways to look at participant's lungs using new machines called Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). The EIT does not use harmful radiation like CT or x-ray. It is read through electrodes like using EKG reading heartbeats. The investigators want to compare the results of patients who have chronic respiratory disease to patients without chronic respiratory disease to learn more about lung structure and composition.

Personalized Care for Prenatal Stress Reduction & Prevention of Preterm Birth (PTB) Disparities

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a personalized prenatal support program \[(Personalized Toolkit Building a Comprehensive Approach to Resource optimization and Empowerment in Pregnancy \& Beyond, (PTBCARE+)\] works to lower stress and lower the risk of early delivery in pregnant individuals at high-risk for delivering preterm. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: * Does the PTBCARE+ patient support program lower patient-reported stress levels during pregnancy? * Does the PTBCARE+ patient support program improve biologic measures of stress during pregnancy? * Does the PTBCARE+ patient support program result in a higher chance of delivering a healthy baby at or close to full term? Researchers will compare people who participate in the PTBCARE+ patient support program to those receive usual care to see if the PTBCARE+ patient support program lowers patient-reported stress, improves biologic measures of stress, and increases the chance of delivering a healthy baby at or close to full term. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive the PTBCARE+ patient support program or usual prenatal care. All participants will be asked to: * complete 2 study visits during pregnancy - including completing electronic surveys, providing a blood and urine sample, measuring the heart rate variability by a clip or the ear or finger, and body composition evaluation using a simple scale-like device. * complete one study visit postpartum that includes completing electronic surveys, and measuring heart rate variability. Blood and urine sample collection and body composition evaluation via InBody scale are optional at the postpartum visit. People who are randomly assigned to receive the PTBCARE+ support program will receive several resources to help them during pregnancy. These things include items such as: * a stress reduction toolkit; * access to an online website that can also be downloaded as a smart phone app; * the option to receive an electronic massage while in clinic, and more. * additional support gifts provided at routine clinical appointments People who are randomly assigned to receive usual prenatal care will not receive any additional support resources from the study during pregnancy.

Prospective Study of the Feasibility of Brain Connectivity Imaging by Functional Ultrasound Imaging (fUS) in Newborn Infant

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) affect how the brain develops and can lead to lifelong difficulties with movement, learning, behavior, and thinking. Every year, around one million newborns in Europe are affected by these conditions. Some babies are at higher risk of NDD due to factors such as being born extremely premature, having poor growth in the womb, experiencing a lack of oxygen at birth, or having a family history of severe NDD. However, predicting which babies will develop these disorders is currently very challenging because there are no reliable early indicators (biomarkers) to detect them. The CONEXUS study is testing a new type of brain imaging technology called functional ultrasound imaging (fUS) to see if it can help assess brain function in newborns at high risk of NDD. This technique measures brain activity by detecting small changes in blood flow, similar to an ultrasound scan but using advanced imaging technology. Researchers believe this method, known as fC-fUS imaging, could help identify early signs of neurodevelopmental disorders. Preliminary studies have shown that fUS imaging can detect brain activity changes in newborns, such as differences between sleep states or during epileptic seizures. The CONEXUS study will expand on this by improving the imaging technology and testing it in a larger group of newborns, including those born prematurely, those with restricted growth, those who needed cooling treatment after birth due to lack of oxygen, and those at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study is being conducted in multiple hospitals in France over five years, involving newborn intensive care, pediatrics, and child psychiatry teams. It is a feasibility study, meaning researchers aim to test whether this imaging technique is practical and effective for use in newborns. Babies will have short, painless fUS scans that focus on brain regions involved in movement, hearing, vision, and attention. Ultimately, the goal of CONEXUS is to demonstrate that fC-fUS imaging can help doctors understand early brain development and identify signs of neurodevelopmental disorders before symptoms appear. If successful, this technique could improve early diagnosis, allowing doctors to start treatment sooner and improve long-term outcomes for affected children. This research has the potential to transform neonatal care by providing a new tool for detecting and monitoring brain function in newborns.

Duration of Surfactant Administration and Impact on Stabilisation of Vital Parameters in Very Preterm Neonates: 1 Minutes Versus 5 Minutes

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is common in very preterm infants due to surfactant deficiency. Surfactant replacement therapy is lifesaving, and current guidelines recommend the less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) technique. However, the optimal duration of surfactant instillation during LISA has never been systematically evaluated. Rapid instillation may provoke transient hypoxia and bradycardia, while slower administration might improve physiological stability and cerebral oxygenation. This randomised controlled trial investigates whether the duration of surfactant administration (1 minute versus 5 minutes) affects cerebral and systemic oxygen stability in extremely preterm neonates (\< 28 weeks).

Neonatal Umbilical Catheter Pathway Simulator

Currently, training for umbilical catheter placement in neonates is primarily focused on inserting the catheter into the umbilical vein. However, no models to date allow real-time ultrasound assessment of catheter tip navigation and final positioning during the procedure. This study introduces the first training simulator designed specifically to address this need, enabling operators to practice not only the insertion but also the ultrasonographic localization of the catheter tip during the placement process.