DOLFIN protocol is now published

Published on Wednesday, 28 January 2026

We are delighted to announce that the DOLFIN study protocol has now been published, and we would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the study. The publication can be accessed here.

DOLFIN is a large UK-wide clinical study designed to find out whether giving babies an additional nutritional supplement in early life can improve their long-term development.

The study focuses on two groups of babies: those born very prematurely before 28 weeks of pregnancy (preterm), and babies born at full term who require cooling treatment after a lack of oxygen to the brain at birth, a condition known as hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Babies taking part are randomly assigned to receive either the nutritional supplement or a matched control supplement, alongside standard medical care, until 12 months from their estimated date of delivery. Researchers will then assess the children's cognitive development at two years of age to determine whether the supplement has had a beneficial effect.

Recruitment for the study began in October 2022 and was completed in April 2025, with 35 hospitals across the UK taking part. In total, 844 babies were enrolled, successfully meeting the recruitment target for the very preterm group.

The study is now in the follow-up phase, which is expected to continue until late spring 2027. The full study is scheduled to conclude in February 2028.