Because Survival Starts With Science

Caffeine helps the smallest babies breathe. But what's the right dose?

Caffeine isn't something you'd expect to find in a Neonatal Intensive Care unit. But for babies born very prematurely, it's one of the most important drugs they're given. Babies born before 32 weeks often stop breathing on their own - a condition called apnoea of prematurity. A tiny dose of caffeine helps them keep breathing.

It's that simple. And it's life-saving.

But here's the problem: hospitals across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the world give different doses. The optimal dose has never been confirmed.

That's about to change.

We are proud to be partnering on BabyCCINO, a world-leading clinical trial designed to find the optimal dose of caffeine for very premature babies, answering one of the most important unanswered questions in neonatal medicine. 

The research is led by Professor Brett Manley and his team at the University of Melbourne and is run in the NICU, at the bedsides of real babies. That means findings and treatments reach the babies who need them faster and change clinical care sooner. 

For 20 years, you've helped fund the equipment that has kept premature babies alive. 

This EOFY, you can help fund something just as important: world-leading Australian research that will answer question: what's the right dose of caffeine to help the smallest babies breathe?

Your gift before 30 June is tax-deductible and helps fund one of the most critical questions in neonatal care.

Charlie, now 10, was born at just 26 weeks, weighing only 890 grams. She’s one of the 21,000 babies who has benefitted from neonatal equipment donated by Running for Premature Babies. She also happens to have benefitted from caffeine citrate treatment during her first weeks of life - treatment that ultimately contributed to her survival.

Charlie’s mum Julie says,

“We have always been aware of the neonatal equipment Running for Premature Babies provides, as Charlie’s life was saved by this equipment when she was in hospital for her first three months of life.
I am beyond thrilled to know that Running for Premature Babies is now funding the BabyCCINO trial.

Experiencing apnoea of prematurity first-hand is very scary, and when you are dealing with the chance your beautiful baby may not survive due to so many complications and conditions of prematurity, any research that can help advance the care of premature babies is so incredibly important.

If it can help one baby’s survival, it’s worth it. And this research will help thousands! 
Please donate this End of Financial Year!"

About Us

Running for Premature Babies was established in 2007 by Sophie Smith after she and her late husband Ash lost their triplet sons, Henry, Jasper and Evan, following an extremely premature birth at 24 weeks.

Since then, thousands of people have run for the cause, raising more than $12 million for life saving neonatal equipment and research giving thousands of premature babies a better chance of survival. 

The Running for Premature Babies Foundation is a registered Australian Charity supporting neonatal units in hospitals around the country.