# Resilient Families (R-FAM): A dyadic resiliency intervention for parents of babies in neonatal intensive care

> **NIH NIH K23** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2024 · $168,915

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This K23 proposal details a 5-year training program that will help launch my career as an independent clinical investigator
who develops, tests, adapts, and implements resiliency interventions for families managing stressful reproductive life events.
I propose an innovative and clinically meaningful research and training plan consistent with my career development goals.
Background: With 400,000 U.S. newborns admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) annually, up to 50% of their
parents experience emotional distress (depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress) during and after hospitalization. Emotional
distress can negatively impact couple and family adjustment, and in turn, child health and development. Building resiliency
in parents early during the NICU journey is key to improve family and child outcomes. Specific aims and research design:
My goal is to develop, refine, and test the feasibility and acceptability of an innovative, resiliency intervention (“Resilient
Families;” R-FAM) for parental dyads (couples) with babies in the NICU. To achieve this goal, my aims are three-fold: (1)
develop R-FAM using stakeholder input from interviews with parent dyads (N=20) and focus groups with NICU staff (N=4);
(2) optimize R-FAM through an open pilot (N=5 dyads) with pre/post assessments and exit interviews; and (3) test R-FAM
for feasibility and acceptability (N=50 dyads) through a pilot randomized clinical trial of R-FAM compared with a minimally
enhanced usual control (MEUC). Findings will inform a subsequent R01 hybrid efficacy-effectiveness trial (R-FAM versus
MEUC) and future R01 mechanistic, adaptation, and implementation trials. Training and mentoring: My research aims
are supported by three training goals: (1) qualitative methods, including longitudinal, dyadic interviews and focus groups;
(2) intervention design and optimization using mixed methods; and (3) conduct dyadic randomized clinical trials. My
research and training goals are supported by: (1) expert mentors (Vranceanu & Lerou) and advisors (Patterson, Kaimal, &
Parker); (2) a rich and supportive institutional environment; and (3) targeted coursework, scientific meetings, trainings, and
planned publications. Relevance to NICHD. This K23 directly aligns with NICHD’s funding priorities to improve treatment
and wellness of women and families who experience high-risk pregnancy-related morbidities (Strategic Plan 3). Impact:
This K23 award will provide me with the research experience, collaborations, mentorship, and training I need to become an
independent and successful clinical investigator in perinatal-neonatal health. I hope to develop, adapt, test, and implement
resiliency interventions that aim to improve emotional distress and relationships in families during the perinatal-neonatal
period. If successful, this work can help inform future adaptations of R-FAM (R01s) that meet the unique needs of different
families, such as single parents, parents coping with loss...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10800673
- **Project number:** 5K23HD110597-02
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Victoria Ann Grunberg
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $168,915
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-04-01 → 2028-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10800673

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10800673, Resilient Families (R-FAM): A dyadic resiliency intervention for parents of babies in neonatal intensive care (5K23HD110597-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10800673. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*