National Association of Neonatal Nurses logo.

Small Grants Program Past Award Recipients

The Small Grants Mentee/Mentor Program accepts applications from all NANN members with an interest in furthering their research interests and/or initiating their own research study. The program connects those with little or no research background with experienced researchers to enhance their skills and promote the success of the research study. Both research and evidence-based project applications are accepted.

2020 Recipients 

Nesibe S. Kutahyalioglu, MSN RN

George Mason University
Neonatal Nurses' Practices about Family-Centered Care and Implementation Barriers

Alyssa Weiss, NNP-BC MSN

The University of Arizona
Failure to Rescue in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Grounded Theory Study

2019 Recipients 

Alexandra Armstrong, RN

Boston Children's Hospital
Toward a Transfer Readiness Tool: From Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to Lower Levels of Care

Kelly McGlothen-Bell, PhD RN IBCLC NTMNC

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Maternal Perceptions of Feeding Behaviors in Infants with Prenatal Opioid Exposure

Rebecca South, BSN RNC-NIC

Bridge to Caring Hands, Inc.
Innovative Nurse-Driven Program to Decrease Stress and Increase Knowledge for Antepartum Mothers

2018 Recipients 

Marliese Nist, MS RNC-NIC

The Ohio State University College of Nursing
Inflammatory Mediators of Stress Exposure and Neurodevelopment in Very Preterm Infants

Julie Vignato, PhD RN RNC-LRN CNE 

University of Iowa
Silent Suffering: The Lived Experience of Perinatal Pain and Depression

Wanli Xu, RN PhD

University of Connecticut, School of Nursing
The Impact of Stress and Gut Inflammation on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Extremely Preterm Infants

2017 Recipients

Carolyn Herrington, PhD RN NNP-BC

Assistant Professor, Clinical
Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Comparison of Salivary Cortisol Levels and Galvanic Skin Response in Identifying Pain Response to Heel Stick under Standard Care, Swaddling, and Gentle Human Touch in the NICU.

Linda Merritt, MSN RNC-NIC Doctoral Candidate

Texas Woman's University
Determining the Needs of Fathers of Premature Neonates

Ashlee Vance, MA RN RNC-NIC

Duke University School of Nursing
Trajectory of Parenting Confidence among Parents of Infants with Complex Chronic Conditions

2016 Recipients

Melinda Colleen Brand, PhD APRN NNP-BC

Texas Children’s Hospital
Pilot Study on the Impact of Unit Design and Shift Assignment on Stress in NICU Nurses

Milena Frazer, RN

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
Improving Thermoregulation in Our Low Birth Weight Population in the Golden Hour

Britt Frisk Pados, PhD RN NNP-BC

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Nursing
Assessment of the Psychometric Properties of the Neonatal Eating Assessment Tool (Neo-EAT)

2015 Recipients

Thao Griffith, PhD(c) BSN RN

University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing
The Effects of Tube Feedings on Preterm Infant Nutritive Feeding Organization

Lauren M. Head, BSN RN

Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Language Exposure in the NICU as a Modifiable Determinant of Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Very Preterm Infants

Dorothy Vittner, PhD(c) MSN BSN

University of Connecticut School of Nursing
Biobehavioral Mechanisms During Maternal and Paternal Skin to Skin Contact with Preterm Infants

2014 Recipients

Carrie Ellen Briere, PhD RN CLC

University of Connecticut School of Nursing
Connecticut Children's Medical Center
A Mixed Methods Feasibility Study to ldentify Pluripotent Stem Cells in Mothers' Breastmilk for Premature Infants

Ann Phalen, PhD CRNP NNP-BC

Thomas Jefferson University: Jefferson School of Nursing
Cerebral and Splanchnic Oxygenation in Premature Neonates and Concomitant with Nasogastric Feedings

Ashley Weber, PhD(c) MS RN

The Ohio State University: College of Nursing
The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital: Center for Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Research
Oxytocin: Biomarker of Affiliation and Neurodevelopment in the Premature Infants

2013 Recipients

Mary Ann Blatz, RNC-NIC MSN IBCLC

Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital
A Feasibility Study of a Smart Phone App to Monitor Breast Milk Supply for Hospitalized Preterm Infants

Patricia Fleck, PhD(c) NNP-BC

Boston Children's Hospital
Mother's Lived Experience During Repair of Long-Gap Esophageal Atresiam a Phenomenological Inquiry

Susan Kern, MSN RNC-NIC NNP-BC

Dayton Children's Hospital
Laryngeal Mask Airway in the Newborn >200 Grams: Assessment of the Comfort Level of Delivery Room Staff After Hands-On Skill Session

Michele Sweet, MS RN

Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University
A Pilot Study of Responses to Suctioning Among Neonates on Bubble Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

2012 Recipients

Ruth Lucas, PhD RNC

Duke University School of Nursing
Maternal Descriptions of the Late Preterm Infant Breastfeeding Behavior Types

Joan Renard Smith, PhD(c) MSN NNP-BC

St. Louis Children's Hospital
Impact of a Novel Relaxation Method of Touch on Neonatal Neurobehavioral Development Among Very Preterm Infant