Daniel T. Swarr, MD

From my first rotations as a medical student, I found caring for children to be the most rewarding area of medicine. Today, as a neonatologist and perinatal medicine specialist, I spend most of my clinical time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The NICU is a truly special place to work. We care for critically ill infants with medical conditions ranging from prematurity to genetic syndromes. It’s gratifying to see some of the most fragile patients in the hospital flourish under our care and go on to lead happy, healthy and productive lives.

Although we are lucky to see so many of our patients thrive after leaving the NICU, as a researcher, I’ve always wanted to improve our understanding of the complex medical conditions that affect these infants — and ultimately provide better treatment options. Fortunately, we are currently in the midst of a revolution in genetics and genomics diagnostics in neonatology, as well as rapid advances in regenerative medicine. It is an exciting and satisfying time to be part of this field.

In my laboratory, we aim to better understand the etiology and pathogenesis of congenital malformations and perinatal lung disorders. Using a wide variety of tools from developmental biology, genetics and epigenetics, we’re investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying lung development, injury, repair and regeneration. Our primary focus is understanding the epigenetic mechanisms by which gene expression modules are established and maintained throughout the lung’s lifespan, and how changes in this “epigenetic code” contribute to pulmonary disease.

The research questions that we ask in the laboratory focus on core biological questions that may seem far removed from clinical care. However, by better understanding basic biology, we will be able to gain insight into the underlying causes of diseases affecting infants and children. This will help us pave the way for novel strategies that encourage the body to repair itself following an injury or disease process.

When I’m not busy in my research lab or the NICU, I also see families as a geneticist for prenatal consultations in the Cincinnati Children’s Fetal Care Center.