Researchers in the Division of Neonatology are investigating the following areas:
Section Chief
- Jeffrey Whitsett, MD, investigates the hierarchy of transcriptional controls and signaling cascades which determine commitment of progenitor cells that produce the differentiated epithelial cells lining the primordial and mature respiratory tract. Studies focus on the control of cell-specific gene transcription governing lung epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation and surfactant gene expression. The goal of his research is to provide insight into the pathogenesis of acute and chronic lung disorders, such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), other disorders of surfactant homeostasis, as well as pulmonary fibrosis, COPD, lung cancer and asthma. [Visit the Whitsett Lab.]
Division Director
- James Greenberg, MD, investigates the developmental biology of pulmonary vascular development, including how vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mediates pulmonary vascular, lymphatic and airway development. Using in vitro cell lines as well as mouse models incorporating inducible transgenes, Dr. Greenberg is studying how VEGF mediates organization of pulmonary vasculature during late fetal life. Additional interests include understanding how certain proteins implicated in axonal guidance during central nervous system development, also direct developmental processes in the lung.
Faculty
- Henry Akinbi, MD, studies host defense proteins in innate defense of the lungs using gene-targeted mice. Another major focus of his research program is the role of lysozyme in: 1) lung infection; 2) inflammation; and 3) anti-oxidant defense.
- Thomas Bartman, MD, PhD, has research interests that include optimizing the care of and outcomes for infants born with congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension.
- Tanya Cahill, MD, has research interests including high risk infant follow-up and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.
- Michael Crossman, MD, PhD, focuses on intestinal function and host-microbial interactions, bioethics and neonatal palliative care.
- Edward Donovan, MD, has research interests that include population health, health disparities, and community-academic research partnerships.
- Horacio Falciglia, MD, serves as the Director of the Vermont Oxford Database, where he finds his work both challenging and interesting. This work allows the division to compare local (Cincinnati) neonatal outcomes, morbidities, and mortality in premature infants under 1500 grams with 600 other NICUs in the US and abroad. Dr. Falciglia’s past research on Meconium Aspiration has been exciting and rewarding, and his research is leading to the explication of the pathophysiology of this complex disease. The incidence of this disease has been drastically reduced through research and improved perinatal care.
- Beth Haberman, MD, has special interests in the care of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia and follow-up care of premature and term infants with complex medical needs.
- Eric Hall, PhD, is a Biomedical Informaticist, participating in a number of interdisciplinary teams investigating prematurity and neonatal disease. Along with coordinating data collection and exchange efforts, his work involves the application of knowledge discovery techniques to clinical data sets as well as the development of software tools to assist in the summarization of clinical data and the modeling of clinical processes.
- Noah Hillman, MD, is studying the effects of initiating ventilation in the preterm lamb; airway and parenchymal lung injury from ventilation; and the methods and interventions for decreasing injury.
- Steven Hoath, MD, has varied research interests including: epidermal barrier development (in utero and postnatal); fetal and neonatal skin adaptation (skin/environment interactions); tissue engineering of human skin (in vitro systems); innate immune function (biology of vernix and skin proteomics); development of non-invasive skin-based sensors for brain monitoring; and the role of the skin as a critical interface for health care delivery.
- Alan Jobe, MD, PhD, has research interests that include: lung maturation and lung injury in the fetus and newborn; the use of antenatal corticosteroids; and lung injury with ventilation of the preterm infant.
- Clinton Joiner, MD, PhD, is interested in red blood cell physiology, and his research focuses on cell volume regulation, membrane transport and sickle cell disease. His clinical interests include red blood cell disorders in children and neonates and newborn hemoglobinopathy screening.
- Suhas Kallapur, MD, is interested in understanding how the fetus copes with and adapts to infectious and inflammatory insults in utero e.g. exposure to chorioamnionitis. Dr. Kallapur’s research focus is to understand the pathogenesis of lung injury, and systemic inflammatory responses in fetuses and newborns. His lab uses a sheep model and has begun some work in humans. [Visit the Kallapur Lab.]
- Heather Kaplan, MD, MSCE, focuses on understanding variations in evidence-based care practices across hospitals, and identifying and examining strategies for increasing the implementation of evidence and other innovations into practice. She recently began a line of investigation aimed at building the evidence base for quality improvement so that QI can be used more effectively as a strategy for improving quality and patient outcomes.
- Alan Kenny, MD, PhD, is focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms controlling the earliest stages of respiratory and digestive organ development.
- Paul Kingma, MD, PhD, investigates the role of the innate immune system in neonatal infection. Specific projects currently focus on the role of surfactant protein D in neonatal sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome and on neutrophil function in cystic fibrosis patients.
- Madhavi Koneru, MD, is working on Urine biomarkers in prenatal renal anomalies.
- Thomas Korfhagen, MD, PhD, studies the roles and mechanisms whereby surfactant proteins A, B, D, Relm peptides and EGF receptor signaling control lung infections, inflammation and responses to lung injury. Translational studies assessing processes to reduce the extent of lung injury and remodeling in neonates and adults.
- Kristin Melton, MD, is interested in early craniofacial development, and focuses on the tissue interactions that direct the formation, migration, and differentiation of neural crest cells. Craniofacial defects account for over one third of all congenital anomalies, and abnormalities of the neural crest -which forms the bones, cartilage, connective tissue and peripheral nervous system of the head and face – are involved in most craniofacial defects. The Melton lab focuses on understanding the influence of the endothelium and the cranial mesoderm on neural crest development. [Visit the Melton Lab.]
- Vivek Narendran, MD, MRCP, is interested in innate immunity of the skin with a particular focus on epidermal biomarkers and antimicrobial peptides on the skin surface.
- Amy Nathan, MD, studies the lung-specific immune responses to environmental insults and exposures. Lung injury continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality for premature infants, and evidence points to both inflammation and mechanical stress as important factors in exacerbating this injury. The reaction to environmental stimuli such as chorioamnionitis or mechanical ventilation varies between individuals, and may be related to their unique immune responses.
- Laurie Nommsen-Rivers, PhD, has research interests that include human milk and lactation, clinical management of the breastfeeding dyad, and perinatal epidemiology.
- Danna Premer, MD, has special interest in the clinical care of premature neonates and infants with complex medical needs.
- John Reuter, MD, PhD, is active in the administration of a 4000 delivery/year community level II service. Academic interests include breastmilk and nutrition in the preterm infant.
- Ward Rice, MD, PhD, studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate processing of Surfactant Protein C, a protein that is critical for lung function.
- Kurt Schibler, MD, is the principal investigator for the NICHD Neonatal research Network at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. In this capacity he supports the conduct of multicenter randomized clinical trials and observational studies on premature and high-risk infants within the Neonatal Research Network. Dr. Schibler is also involved in thematic collaborative research investigating the immune mechanisms underlying morbidity and mortality associated with preterm birth. One area of current investigation aims to identify infants at high risk for developing necrotizing enterocolits and late onset infection and to devise strategies to prevent and to treat these devastating complications of prematurity.
- Andrew South, MD, has research interests that include epidemiology and prevention of late-preterm birth and the long-term outcome of infants born with gastroschisis.
- Jean Steichen, MD, has special interests in high-risk infant follow-up.
- Laura Ward, MD, focuses on strategies to prevent significant hyperbilirubinemia in term and late preterm infants.
- Kathy Wedig, MD, focuses on neonatal follow-up, including the follow-up of graduates from the NICU and drug exposed neonates with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Future research plans involve neuroimaging and therapy based on the neurological findings.
- Scott Wexelblatt, MD, has intrests in the late preterm infant and regional newborn care.
