The Neonatal Research Network: History since 2003, future directions and challenges

Abstract

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Neontal Research Network (NRN) was established in 1986 in response to the need for rigorous studies to guide care and management of sick and premature newborns. The network is comprise of clinical centers that perform clinical protocols to investigate the safety and efficay of treatment and management strategies for newborn infants as well as a data cordinating center. Infrastructure is set up for observational and interventional studies as well as neurodevelopmental follow-up of patients. The network has conducted trials and observational studies on major neonatal problems including pulmonary disease, neuroprotection, sepsis and infection, necrotizing enterocolitis, vaccine administration to preterm infants, retinopathy of prematurity, cardiovascular issues including blood pressure, human milk, growth and nutrition, hematologic issues, resuscitation, pulmonary hypertension, and neurodevelopmental outcome. This mechanism of clinical research for newborns has led to changes in care practices leading to improved outcomes for high-risk infants.

Optimizing High-risk Infant Follow-up in Nonresearch-based Paradigms: The New England Follow-up Network

“…However, the network's focus remains on clinical research and not quality improvement efforts for NICU or outpatient follow-up health services. 19 The Canadian Neonatal Follow-up Network is a collaboration with the Canadian Neonatal Network that facilitates collaboration in research, integrated data collection, and knowledge translation. It improves the quality of care and long-term outcomes of children seen in their programs.…”

The ACT NOW Clinical Practice Survey: Gaps in the Care of Infants With Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome

“…The ISPCTN and NRN convened a crossdisciplinary team in September 2017 to address the growing neonatal opioid crisis. 22,23 This collaboration between the ISPCTN and NRN resulted in the formation of the Advancing Clinical Trials in Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal (ACT NOW) initiative, a research alliance designed to evaluate diagnostic and treatment options for neonates experiencing withdrawal from prenatal opioid exposure. The ACT NOW collaborative is implementing a multifaceted clinical research program designed to fill these gaps, building on clinical practice surveys and observational data collection to direct future clinical trials across the United States in both urban and rural sites.…”