Actively Recruiting
WithHolding Enteral Feeds Around Blood Transfusion (International)
Led by IWK Health Centre · Updated on 2026-04-24
4333
Participants Needed
40
Research Sites
269 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
I
IWK Health Centre
Lead Sponsor
C
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The WHEAT International trial is a comparative effectiveness trial exploring whether withholding enteral feeds around the time of blood transfusion in very premature infants (\<30 weeks) will reduce the occurrence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC). Currently both continued feeding and withholding feeding are approved care practices. The current study will randomize infants from Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) across Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) into one of the two care approaches (withholding or continued feeds) to determine if any significant outcomes are found.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
WithHolding Enteral Feeds Around Blood Transfusion (International)
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Preterm birth at less than 30 weeks gestational age
You will not qualify if you...
- Parent(s) opt out of trial participation
- Infant received packed red cell transfusion with concurrent enteral feeds prior to enrollment (except if nil-by-mouth or minimal feeds <15 ml/kg/day during transfusion)
- Infant is not being fed at the time of randomization (less than 15 ml/kg/day) or feeding is contraindicated (e.g., major congenital gastrointestinal abnormality)
- Previous episode of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Bell stage 2 or higher or spontaneous intestinal perforation before first study transfusion
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 40 locations
1
IWK Health
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3K 6R8
Actively Recruiting
2
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital)
Norwich, England, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
3
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Hillingdon Hospital)
Hillingdon, UK, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
4
Barts Health NHS Trust (3 Hospitals: Royal London Hospital, Whipps Cross Hospital, Newham General Hospital)
London, UK, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
5
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Chelsea and Westminster Hospital)
London, UK, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
6
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (2 Hospitals: St Mary's Hospital & Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital)
London, UK, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
7
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Luton & Dunstable University Hospital)
Luton, UK, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
8
East Kent University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (William Harvey Hospital)
Ashford, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
9
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (Stoke Mandeville Hospital)
Aylesbury, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
10
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Barnsley, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
11
Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust (Birmingham Women's Hospital NICU)
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
12
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust (2 Hospitals: Heartland's Hospital & Good Hope Hospital)
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
13
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Bradford Royal Infirmary)
Bradford, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
14
North Bristol NHS Trust (Southmead Hospital)
Bristol, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
15
East and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust - Colchester Hospital
Colchester, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
16
University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust (University Hospital Coventry)
Coventry, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
17
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust (Royal Derby Hospital)
Derby, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
18
NHS Tayside (Ninewells Hospital)
Dundee, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
19
Medway Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit, Medway Maritime Hospital)
Gillingham, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
20
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Gloucestershire Royal Hospital)
Gloucester, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
21
Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (Calderdale Royal Hospital)
Halifax, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
22
East and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust - Ipswich Hospital
Ipswich, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
23
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (Leeds General Infirmary & St James' University Hospital)
Leeds, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
24
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (Leicester Royal Infirmary)
Leicester, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
25
Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Liverpool Women's Hospital)
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
26
North West London NHS Trust (Northwick Park Hospital)
London, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
27
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (2 Hospitals: St Mary's Hospital - Oxford Road, North Manchester General)
Manchester, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
28
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (Wythenshawe)
Manchester, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
29
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Royal Victoria Infirmary)
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
30
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (2 Hospitals: City Hospital, Queen's Medical Centre)
Nottingham, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
31
Oxford University Hospitals NHS FT (John Radcliffe Hospital)
Oxford, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
32
North West Anglia NHS Trust (Peterborough City Hospital)
Peterborough, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
33
Portsmouth University Hospitals NHS Trust (Queen Alexandra Hospital)
Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
34
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Royal Preston Hospital)
Preston, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
35
The Shrewsbury & Telford Hospitals NHS Trust (Royal Shrewsbury Hospital)
Shrewsbury, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
36
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (Southampton General Hospital)
Southampton, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
37
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (Glan Cwyd Hospital)
Wales, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
38
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust (Walsall Manor Hospital)
Walsall, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
39
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust (Watford General Hospital)
Watford, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
40
Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (New Cross Hospital)
Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
C
Cari-Lee Carnell
CONTACT
T
Tara Hatfield
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
OTHER
Number of Arms
2
Not the Right Trial for You?
Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.
Already have an account? Log in here