Bradford Institute for Health Research (BIHR)1 is celebrating the success of its Neonatal Research team at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTHFT), who are among the leading UK recruiters to two international clinical studies investigating whether oral insulin can safely support gastrointestinal development in preterm babies and help them reach full feeds sooner.
The studies – FIT‑PIV and FIT‑05, led globally by Elgan Pharma – are evaluating a neonatal‑specific formulation of oral insulin that aims to improve feeding tolerance and reduce complications related to intestinal malabsorption in preterm infants. Both studies are part of the National Institute for Health and Social Care Research (NIHR)2 portfolio.
Bradford has a long‑standing collaborative relationship with Elgan Pharma and is proud to be one of the top recruiting sites in the UK and the world, with 11 babies recruited as of January 2026.
This achievement reflects the Trust’s commitment to offering families in Bradford access to cutting‑edge neonatal research that has the potential to improve care for premature infants around the world.
Dr Sam Oddie, Consultant Neonatologist and Principal Investigator at BTHFT, said:
“We are delighted to be able to offer preterm babies cared for in Bradford participation in this comparison of medical treatments. The therapy we are using is promising, based on our previous work. I am hopeful that this additional safe treatment will be an important step forward in how neonatal units all over the world look after babies. On a personal note, I am proud to work with a brilliant team that are enabling families to access this treatment, and I am excited to see the results.”
A mother whose twin boys were born prematurely at 27 weeks explains why she wanted to take part in the study:
“Sam (Dr Sam Oddie) came to see me and the boys two days after we came to NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and he was really lovely. The way he explained the study to us, we thought why would we not be in this study as it just sounded like a great research project to be a part of for the boys. He told us that the study had been done before with loads of other babies, so we didn’t feel worried about it. He gave us lots of time to think about it, came back and asked us some more questions and gave us some more information – we didn’t feel pressured or anything. And this just seemed like a great thing for the boys to be in.”
Rachel Wane, Senior Neonatal Research Nurse at BTHFT said:
“It’s great that we are able to offer this study to our very early babies, we are grateful that families have chosen to join in, not only could it benefit their baby but also babies in the future.”
Michal Olshansky, CEO, Elgan Pharma said:
“We are proud to collaborate with the Bradford Neonatal Research team, along with other leading centres worldwide, in advancing this important research, which we hope will lead to improved outcomes for premature infants. Bradford’s strong recruitment performance is instrumental to the progress of our studies, including Dr Oddie’s achievement in enrolling the first infants worldwide into the FIT-05 study. Working closely with dedicated clinical teams such as those in Bradford enables us to develop innovative therapies for preterm infants while maintaining patient safety and wellbeing as our highest priority. We are grateful for the contributions of Dr Oddie, and the entire Bradford team and for their continued dedication to innovation in neonatal medicine”.
Why the study matters
Achieving full feeds earlier in life is a crucial step for preterm babies, supporting:
- Better growth and gut development
- Reduced time on parenteral (IV) nutrition
- Lower risk of feeding‑related complications
- Earlier readiness for discharge
Bradford’s contribution to this research will help generate evidence that could shape neonatal practice internationally for years to come.