Ochsner Children’s NICU accepted into Tiny Baby Collaborative

Participation connects Ochsner Children’s with leading neonatal centers worldwide to help improve care for extremely premature infants and support their families.

NEW ORLEANS - Ochsner Children’s has been accepted into the Tiny Baby Collaborative, an international research network dedicated to improving outcomes for infants born at or before 23 weeks' gestation and their families. Through participation in the collaborative, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Ochsner Baptist will work alongside leading neonatal centers worldwide to share data, advance research and identify best practices for caring for extremely premature infants.

The Tiny Baby Collaborative brings together clinicians and researchers from participating hospitals across eight countries to foster collaboration, conduct research and improve care for extremely premature infants. Ochsner is one of 61 participating hospitals worldwide and the only Louisiana hospital in the collaborative, giving Ochsner opportunities to learn from and contribute to leading neonatal programs around the world.

Advancing care for the most premature infants

"When a baby is born weighing less than a pound or months before their due date, families suddenly find themselves on a journey they never expected,” said Jose Perez, MD, associate medical director for pediatrics and system medical director of neonatal intensive care, Ochsner Children’s. “The challenges can be overwhelming, and every day can bring new uncertainties. Joining the Tiny Baby Collaborative reflects our commitment not only to providing the highest level of care for these incredibly fragile infants, but also to supporting the families who navigate every setback, milestone and hard-won victory alongside them. Through this collaboration, we can learn from leading neonatal centers around the world, contribute to research and continually improve outcomes for our smallest patients.”

Turning neonatal research into better care

Membership in the collaborative follows a formal review process and gives Ochsner the opportunity to compare outcomes with leading institutions while participating in research and quality improvement efforts. The collaboration will support the adoption of evidence-based practices for extremely premature infants and help bring leading neonatal insights to families across the region.

As a participating member, Ochsner will contribute to research and quality improvement efforts focused on improving outcomes for extremely premature infants and their families. Preterm birth affects approximately 1 in 10 babies born in the United States, and infants born extremely premature face the highest risk of serious complications, long NICU stays and lifelong health challenges. Research collaborations like the Tiny Baby Collaborative help neonatal experts better understand how to improve survival and long-term outcomes for these vulnerable patients and support families throughout their journey.

Learn more about NICU services at Ochsner Children’s by visiting Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) | Ochsner Health.

Media contact: pr@ochsner.org 

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About Ochsner Children’s 

Ochsner Children’s is a nationally recognized leader in pediatric healthcare, serving children and families across Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf South. Ochsner Children’s provides nationally recognized expert care across a wide range of pediatric specialties and subspecialties, helping families access advanced care close to home. Opening in 2028, Ochsner Children’s new home, The Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children’s Hospital, will set a new standard for pediatric care as the Gulf South’s most advanced children’s hospital. Visit Ochsner Children's to learn more.