U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know
Here’s how you know

**Official websites use .gov**
A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
A **lock** ( A locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Search Query:
			MAIN MENU

																				
              Health Topics
								All Health Topics A-Z
					
													
		

		Asthma


				

															Heart-Healthy Living


				

															High Blood Pressure


				

															Sickle Cell Disease


				

															Sleep Apnea


				

															Information & Resources on COVID-19
																				
              Health Education
								Education Programs and Initiatives
					
													
		

		The Heart Truth®


				

															Learn More Breathe Better®


				

															Blood Diseases and Disorders Education Program


				

															Publications and Resources
																				
              The Science
								Research Focus Areas
					
													
		

		Blood Disorders and Blood Safety


				

															Sleep Science and Sleep Disorders


				

															Lung Diseases


				

															Health Disparities and Inequities


				

															Heart and Vascular Diseases


				

															Precision Medicine Activities


				

															Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical Activity


				

															Population and Epidemiology Studies


				

															Women’s Health


				

															Research Topics


				

															Clinical Trials


				

															All Science A-Z
																				
              Grants and Training
								Grants and Training Home


				

															Policies and Guidelines


				

															Funding Opportunities and Contacts


				

															Training and Career Development
																				
              News and Events
								News and Events Home
					
													
		

		Email Alerts


				

															All News
					
													
		

		NHLBI News


				

															NHLBI in the Press


				

															Research Features


				

															All Events
					
													
		

		Past Events


				

															Upcoming Events
																				
              About NHLBI
								About NHLBI Home
					
													
		

		Mission and Strategic Vision


				

															Leadership


				

															Divisions, Offices and Centers


				

															Advisory Committees


				

															Budget and Legislative Information


				

															Jobs and Working at the NHLBI


				

															Contact and FAQs


				

															NIH Sleep Research Plan
						
						HOME
		Search Text: Research Topics
  
  Home< Back ToResearch TopicsNewborn Breathing Conditions Research
  Newborn Breathing Conditions Research
Language switcherEnglishEspañol
IN THIS ARTICLE
        View More
        View Less
As part of its broader commitment to research on lung diseases, the NHLBI leads and supports research and programs on newborn breathing conditions. Our research has helped scientists and clinicians better understand the causes of breathing and lung problems in newborns. We continue to support research to help find new ways to prevent and treat these conditions.
More on newborn breathing
      Illustration of a document with the red cross medical symbol
      Patient Information
              Illustration of a microscope
      Find a Clinical Trial
  NHLBI research that really made a difference

            Ground-breaking research funded by the NHLBI has helped establish the standards of care for newborns with breathing and lung problems. Our research helped develop the use of corticosteroids to accelerate lung development in babies at risk for premature birth. We also funded studies developing the use of surfactant replacement therapy to improve breathing in premature newborns and the use of nitric oxide to treat pulmonary hypertension. These treatment methods continue to significantly improve the survival and long-term quality of life for premature newborns. Read about the study on the use of corticosteroids.

          
Current research funded by the NHLBI

            Our Division of Lung Diseases and its Lung Biology and Disease Branch fund research on breathing conditions in newborns.


  Research Funding
      
                    
                    

                                            
            Find funding opportunities and program contacts for respiratory failure research.
Current research on preventing and treating bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)

An NHLBI-funded study on sildenafil (Viagra) is investigating a safe starting dose for babies who develop pulmonary hypertension as part of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a lung disease of prematurity. The medicine is often used off-label by doctors in babies to treat pulmonary hypertension and this study will help to provide clinical data on an age-appropriate dosing strategy.
	NHLBI funds a study about the effect of positive pressure ventilation to enhance lung growth in premature babies using animal models.
	NHLBI-funded researchers are investigating the use of inhaled vitamin A in animal models to prevent BPD by reducing lung damage. Vitamin A may improve lung development in newborns.
	With support from the NHLBI, researchers are investigating the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mathematical resolution of X-ray images to better understand lung problems that occur in newborns with BPD. Many imaging methods require sedation and can expose infants to radiation. New, cutting-edge MRI methods do not require either, and could provide images of the structure and function of the lungs that may help doctors diagnose and treat infants with BPD.
	NHLBI-funded researchers are using ultra-short MRI techniques to image the lung and chest bones, including the rib cage, and correlate findings to lung volumes and capacities in the growing child.
	With support from NHLBI, researchers are studying toddlers who were born premature and whose mothers received steroids in late pregnancy to assist with the child’s lung function and cognitive development. Similarly, premature babies who received steroids soon after birth are being studied for lung function and intellectual ability at school age.Find more NHLBI-funded studies on bronchopulmonary dysplasia at NIH RePORTER.


  NHLBI in the Press
      
                    
                    

                                            
            Read more about a study that points to possible cell-based lung therapy to help premature babies breathe easier.
Current research on preventing and treating breathing problems related to premature birth

NHLBI-funded research is testing the use of therapeutic in utero gene editing called CRISPR-Cas9 to treat genetic disorders before birth that can lead to breathing issues in newborns. Babies who are born premature have less developed lungs and a deficiency of the cells that produce surfactant, which helps keep the lungs stable after birth and prevents them from collapsing. Without enough surfactant, infants struggle to breathe, a condition called respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) of the newborn.
	Other NHLBI-funded researchers are developing synthetic lung surfactant that would be lower in cost and more accessible to newborns with RDS across the globe.
	NHLBI-funded researchers are developing a low-cost electrode that can generate nitric oxide, a portable option for a potent pulmonary hypertension treatment that can be used worldwide.
	A study on lung imaging software may help better predict which newborns with breathing conditions are at risk for developing serious complications like BPD or lower respiratory tract infections. Researchers are using technology called Lung Aeration and Irregular opacities Radiological analyzer (LungAIR) and electronic health record data to reduce hospitalization time and lower rates of serious complications and death in newborns with breathing conditions.Find more NHLBI-funded studies on breathing problems related to premature birth at NIH RePORTER.

Current research on the long-term effects of newborn breathing conditions

NHLBI-supported research aims to better understand why some babies with breathing conditions develop additional health problems throughout their childhood, such as asthma, breathing abnormalities during sleep, and problems during development.
	NHLBI-funded researchers are examining why some infants who need continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment develop medical problems like asthma and wheezing later in life. Researchers hope that this discovery will reveal promising targets to prevent unintended effects of CPAP treatment in newborns with breathing conditions.Find more NHLBI-funded studies on understanding the long-term effects of newborn breathing conditions at NIH RePORTER.

          
Newborn breathing condition research labs at the NHLBI

            Our Division of Intramural Research and its Pulmonary Branch include some of the investigators at NHLBI who are actively engaged in the study of newborn breathing conditions.

          
Related newborn breathing condition programs

            The NHLBI supports the Centers for Advanced Diagnostics and Experimental Therapeutics in Lung Diseases (CADET) program. This program stimulated the development of new treatments for lung and breathing conditions, as well as sleep disorders. The first stage, CADET I, supported research on how lung diseases develop. The second stage, CADET II, funded research on new drugs.
	The Molecular Atlas of Lung Development Program (LungMAP) is integrating many datasets to build a molecular map of the developing lung in both humans and mice. The program is helping advance lung research in part through its web-based data resource called BREATH, that allows users to access LungMAP data and findings. Learn more about LungMAP: NHLBI project breathes life into first in-depth atlas of the human lung.
	The Biologic Specimen and Data Repository Information Coordinating Center (BioLINCC) centralizes and integrates biospecimens and clinical data that were once stored in separate repositories. Researchers can find and request available resources on BioLINCC’s secure website, which maximizes the value of these resources and advances research in newborn breathing and lung conditions, among many others.
  Explore more NHLBI research on newborn breathing conditions

            The sections above provide you with the highlights of NHLBI-supported research on newborn breathing conditions. You can explore the full list of NHLBI-funded studies on the NIH RePORTER.
      
            To find more studies:

Type your search words into the Quick Search box and press enter.
	Check Active Projects if you want current research.
	Select the Agencies arrow, then the NIH arrow, then check NHLBI.If you want to sort the projects by budget size — from the biggest to the smallest — click on the FY Total Cost by IC column heading.
  Last updated on March 24, 2022 Back To Top Link
  

        

        Back to top
  Web Policies & Notices
  

        

              Accessibility
                      No FEAR Act Data
                      Privacy Policy
                      Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
                      HHS Vulnerability Disclosure
    
          Related Government Websites
  

        

              Health and Human Services
                      National Institutes of Health
                      Office of the Inspector General
                      USA.gov
    
          Stay Connected
    
      
            chat bubblesLive ChatLive Chat with us, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.envelopeGet Email AlertsReceive automatic alerts about NHLBI related news and highlights from across the Institute.
  Footer Bottom
  

        



Contact Us
                            Site Index
                            Jobs