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Contact the study team using the details below to take part. If there are no contact details below please ask your doctor in the first instance.
Joe
Montebello
wheat@imperial.ac.uk
Joseph
Montebello
j.montebello@imperial.ac.uk
Dr
Chris
Gale
christopher.gale@imperial.ac.uk
More information about this study, what is involved and how to take part can be found on the study website.
Digestive system disorders of fetus and newbornDisorders related to length of gestation and fetal growth
This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.
This application is for a health economics analysis alongside the ongoing WHEAT Trial (IRAS 309894). Babies born prematurely are at risk of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), a serious gut disease that causes over 200 deaths yearly in the UK – about 1 in 20 of all child deaths. Babies who survive NEC often face long-term gut and brain damage.
Premature babies are fed milk every few hours and often need blood transfusions for anaemia (low red blood cells). Some doctors worry that feeding during transfusions may increase NEC risk, while others believe pausing feeds could be more harmful. To address this, the WHEAT Trial, a large, randomised study, is currently running in over 50 neonatal units across the UK and Canada. Babies in the trial are randomly assigned to have feeds either paused or continued during transfusions, helping doctors understand the safest approach.
By the end of 2026, over 2,000 UK babies will have joined the WHEAT Trial. At the end of the trial, we will compare groups to see if those with paused feeds have lower NEC rates. Developed with a dedicated parent and patient advisory group, WHEAT has been designed with family input from the start.
This health economics analysis builds on the existing, ongoing WHEAT Trial described above, to better understand how prematurity and NEC affect families after discharge. We will assess quality of life, wellbeing, and the economic impact on families involved in WHEAT. We plan to survey 75 families with premature babies who have or haven’t developed NEC, asking about their quality of life, wellbeing, and financial implications (e.g., hospital visits, job changes). This analysis will provide insights into the financial and quality of life impacts of premature birth and NEC on families and also to evaluate whether WHEAT’s intervention could lead to cost savings for NHS neonatal care.
Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.
The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:
Observational type: Cohort study;
You can take part if:
You may not be able to take part if:
1) Parent(s) of a baby that died of NEC 2) Unable to provide written informed consent 3) Unable to understand English
Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.
Dr
Chris
Gale
christopher.gale@imperial.ac.uk
Joseph
Montebello
j.montebello@imperial.ac.uk
Joe
Montebello
wheat@imperial.ac.uk
More information about this study, what is involved and how to take part can be found on the study website.
The study is sponsored by Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine and funded by EuroQol Research Foundation; Bukhman Foundation; .
Your feedback is important to us. It will help us improve the quality of the study information on this site. Please answer both questions.
Read full details
for Trial ID: CPMS 66967
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