RecruitingNot Applicable

LIFT-UP: Randomized Controlled Trial of Fortification of Human Milk

India776 participantsStarted 2025-01-16

Plain-language summary

The goal of the LIFT-UP randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy of feeding routinely and fortified human milk using a standardized clinical protocol to very low birthweight (VLBW) or very preterm (VPT) infants in the NICU compared to not feeding routinely fortified human milk using the standardized clinical protocol. The primary research question is: Will VLBW or VPT infants in the NICU who are fed fortified human milk using a standardized feeding protocol have better growth outcomes by facility discharge and at 3 months of age, less illness by discharge, and decreased mortality by discharge and at one month compared to those who are not routinely fed fortified human milk using the same feeding protocol?

Who can participate

Age range

48 Hours

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Very LBW (≤1.5kg)\* or very preterm (≤32 weeks) infants admitted to NICU at study facility within 24 hours of birth for in-born infants and up to 48 hours for out-born\*\* * Mother and infant alive during screening * Mother age 18+ years * Lives within catchment areas of the facility * Mother intends to stay in catchment area of the study facility for at least 3 months * At randomization: Infant receiving at least 60 mL/kg/day of human milk\*\*\* Exclusion Criteria: * Lives outside the defined catchment area * Congenital abnormalities or acquired conditions that interfere with feeding or placement of nasogastric/orogastric tube \[cleft lip/palate, toxoplasmosis, other agents, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes (TORCH), Trisomy 21, congenital cardiac defect, neural tube defect, gastrointestinal tract anomalies, hydrocephalus, NEC\] * Severe birth asphyxia * Critically ill (i.e. not on enteral feeds) * Unknown date of birth and unknown gestational age

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Length-for-age Z score (LAZ)

Timeframe: 3 Months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06765863

SponsorHarvard School of Public Health (HSPH)

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-03-31

Contact for this trial

Ilana Dzuba, MHS

617-384-6555 idzuba@ariadnelabs.org

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Very Preterm Infant trials