Medela Leads Global Charge Against Deadly Neonatal Disease NEC

McHENRY, IL – May 01, 2026 – Medela, a global leader in healthcare technology, has announced a major partnership with the NEC Society to launch a worldwide campaign for Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) Awareness Month. The initiative, running through May, seeks to cast a spotlight on one of the most devastating and deadly diseases affecting premature infants, culminating in a global run on May 16 to rally support and fund critical research.

This collaboration marks a significant step in the fight against a disease that, despite advances in modern medicine, continues to claim the lives of the world's most vulnerable babies. By combining corporate resources with non-profit advocacy, the campaign aims to educate, empower, and mobilize a global community toward a single goal: building a world without NEC.

The Hidden Scourge of the NICU

Necrotizing enterocolitis is a complex and aggressive inflammatory intestinal disease that primarily strikes premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The condition causes severe inflammation that can lead to tissue death (necrosis) in the intestine, bacterial infection, and perforation. For parents, it is a terrifying and often life-changing diagnosis.

Globally, NEC affects up to 7% of very low birth weight infants—those born weighing less than 1500 grams—and carries a mortality rate as high as 50%. In the United States alone, an estimated 3,500 infants are diagnosed annually. Even for those who survive, the road ahead can be fraught with challenges. Survivors often face lifelong complications, including short bowel syndrome, which impairs nutrient absorption, and an increased risk of neurodevelopmental delays. The standard treatment is aggressive, involving the cessation of all feedings, a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and, in severe cases, emergency surgery to remove the dead portions of the intestine.

A Liquid Gold Defense

Amidst the clinical challenges of treating NEC, one preventative measure stands out for its profound efficacy: human milk. Compelling research has demonstrated that an exclusive diet of a mother's own milk can reduce an infant's risk of developing NEC by a staggering 58%. When a mother’s milk is unavailable, pasteurized donor human milk is the recommended alternative, serving as a critical medical intervention.

“Necrotizing enterocolitis remains one of the most devastating conditions affecting premature infants and their families,” said Angela Lang, DNP-CNS, RN, IBCLC, Global Director of Medical Affairs & Clinical Education at Medela. “The evidence supporting mother’s own milk as a powerful protective factor against NEC is both compelling and motivating.”

However, providing human milk in a NICU setting is far from simple. Mothers of premature infants face immense barriers, including the physiological stress of a preterm birth which can delay milk production, the emotional and logistical strain of being separated from their baby, and the demanding reality of needing to pump 8-10 times a day to establish and maintain a milk supply. Socioeconomic factors and racial disparities further complicate access, with studies showing that Black mothers and those on public insurance face additional hurdles in providing human milk for their infants, contributing to inequitable health outcomes.

Beyond Products: A Corporate Champion Emerges

Medela's partnership with the NEC Society, first established in 2024, represents a strategic evolution from a product manufacturer to a public health champion. The company is leveraging its deep expertise in lactation science and its extensive hospital network to address the NEC crisis head-on. This commitment goes far beyond a simple financial donation, though its contributions have totaled $75,000 since the partnership began.

In 2025, Medela used its distribution channels to deliver the NEC Society’s Family Resource Boxes and Bereaved Family Boxes to hospitals, providing crucial information and compassionate support directly to families in the midst of a crisis. The company’s dedication is also personal; a Clinical Nurse Educator from Medela volunteers as the chair of the NEC Society’s Nurse Ambassador Program, helping to equip frontline nurses with the latest knowledge. This deep integration stands in contrast to the broader, less-focused social responsibility initiatives common in the industry, signaling a targeted commitment to a specific, urgent health issue.

This synergy was further demonstrated when Medela provided an emergency grant of $45,000 to the NEC Society Symposium and strategically scheduled its own Global Symposium to follow, fostering greater collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders. “Through our partnership with the NEC Society, we are working to ensure that more families have access to the education, resources, and lactation support needed to give their infants the best possible start,” Lang added.

A Global Stride for Tiny Lives

The campaign’s public-facing centerpiece is the NEC Awareness Run & Walk, scheduled for Saturday, May 16. The event is designed to mobilize Medela employees, healthcare professionals, families affected by NEC, and advocates across the globe. Participants can join a physical event in Davis, California, or participate virtually from their own communities, creating a worldwide wave of support and visibility for the cause.

The funds raised will directly benefit the NEC Society’s multifaceted work, which includes advancing groundbreaking research through its multi-institutional NEC Biorepository, developing educational resources, and advocating for equitable access to donor human milk. A key goal for this year's awareness month is to raise $125,000 to help fund the world’s first-ever in-person NEC Family Summit, creating a vital space for families to connect, learn, and collaborate. By lacing up their shoes, participants are not just running a race; they are taking a collective stride toward a future where every infant is protected from this devastating disease.