Paul S. Kingma, MD, PhD

I serve as an attending physician in the Cincinnati Children’s NICU and as the neonatal director of the Cincinnati Fetal Center. My work focuses on several key research areas.

First, I aim to improve our understanding of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). My lab is developing methods to measure lung injury in CDH infants and advancing the use of airway pressure release ventilation to reduce lung injury. In collaboration with Dr. Jason Woods, we use MRI-based methods to measure lung growth and function in these infants.

Second, I work on understanding tracheal esophageal (TE) defects. Using novel MRI techniques, I evaluate tracheal and esophageal morphology in infants with TE defects. I also lead efforts to gather detailed data on a large cohort of patients with TE defects to enhance diagnosis, predict complications, and improve treatment.

Third, I develop strategies to prevent and treat intestinal dysfunction and feeding intolerance in infants with gastroschisis. I lead a Gerber Foundation funded study using MRI to quantify intestinal factors leading to feeding intolerance.

Finally, I focus on the molecular pathogenesis of neonatal lung injury. I evaluate the role of Surfactant Protein D (SP-D) and the pulmonary innate immune system. As part of a collaboration at Cincinnati Children's, we are developing SP-D as a therapeutic agent to improve surfactant function and reduce lung injury in premature infants.