Research

We are exploring a number of different areas of neonatal research including volume targeted and patient-triggered ventilation, developmental neurochemistry, ECMO, elements of chronic lung disease, nitric oxide therapy, and newer surfactant treatments.  Our B.R.A.I.N. care program focuses on prevention and treatment of neonatal brain injury.

Strong collaborative ties exist with the Division of Pediatric Neurology, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, the Department of Radiology, and the Department of Obstetrics. Fellows are exposed to significant research involvement during their training.

Our Faculty members are currently involved in these projects:

John D.E. Barks, M.D. ([email protected])
Division Director

  • Drug repurposing for Neonatal Neuroprotection – Preclinical Studies
  • Sleep-disordered breathing in NICU patients
  • Sleep-disordered breathing in patients with myelomeningocele
  • Neonatal seizures

Marin Arnolds, M.D. ([email protected]
Fellowship Program Director

  • Neonatal & Pediatric Ethics
  • Clinical Ethics Consultations
  • Prenatal Counseling

Mohammed A. Attar, M.D. ([email protected])

  • Evaluation of pediatric resident education methods
  • Evaluation of neonatal resuscitation
  • Mechanical ventilation
  • Pulmonary response to treatment with surfactant

Katie Baughman, M.D. ([email protected])

  • Neonatal Ethics
  • Tracheostomy Shared Decision-Making
  • Standardized Debriefs

Parul Cham, D.O. ([email protected])

  • BPD
  • Parent and Provider Relations and Communication
  • Digital Technology and Healthcare
  • Quality Improvement
  • Parental and Provider Well-Being

Karl Desch, M.D. ([email protected])

  • Identification of the genetic determinants of complex traits related to thrombosis and hemostasis, such as von Willebrand factor levels and thrombophilia
  • Linkage studies
  • Common and rare variant genome-wide association studies
  • Whole exome and whole genome sequencing studies
  • ADAMTS 13 and Von Willebrand Factor substrate specificity

Steven M. Donn, M.D. ([email protected])
Professor Emeritus
Editor-in-Chief, Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine and Co-editor, Year Book of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

  • Management of respiratory failure in preterm and term neonates, including newer modalities of ventilation, and real-time pulmonary graphic analysis
  • Evaluation and comparison of different surfactant preparations
  • Development of a synthetic, non-animal-derived surfactant
  • Hypothermic neuroprotection following birth asphyxia
  • Medical liability and risk management in perinatal and neonatal practice

Lindsay Ellsworth, M.D. ([email protected])

  • Clinical-Translational Developmental Programming
  • Human Milk Consumption
  • Microbiome
  • Infant Growth & Body Composition
  • NICU Nutrition Workgroup Co-Lead
  • Neonatal ECMO

Paris Ekeke, M.D. ([email protected])

  • Trauma-informed care for NICU parents
  • Disparities in community-based interventions for NICU graduates

Naomi Laventhal, M.D. ([email protected])
Service Chief

  • Clinical research ethics
  • Neonatal clinical bioethics
  • Effectiveness of prenatal counseling

Jaqueline Meadow, M.D. ([email protected])
Associate Fellowship Program Director

  • Neonatal Ethics
  • Standardized Debriefs

Melanie Reyes, M.D. ([email protected])

  • Neonatal Hemodynamics
  • Quality Improvement
  • Medical Trainee Education

Olivia Ruth, M.D. ([email protected]

  • Neonatal Delirium

Subrata Sarkar, M.D. ([email protected])

  • Impact of Therapeutic Hypothermia on Brain Injury and Multi-organ Dysfunction
  • Temperature Regulation in Therapeutic Hypothermia
  • Informed Choice for Medication use in Culturally Diverse Patients
  • Intraventricular Hemorrhage and Post-Hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus

Kate P. Stanley, M.D. ([email protected] )

  • Parental and Caregiver Attitudes as Barriers to Donor Human Milk Use
  • Impact of Enteral Nutrition Source on the Fecal Microbiome of ELBW infants

Rebecca J. Vartanian, M.D. ([email protected] )

  • Vermont-Oxford Network Site Co-I
  • Optimization of Oxygen Management in Premature Infants
  • Impact of Standardized Feeding Protocols on NICU Outcomes

Gary M. Weiner, M.D. ([email protected])
Medical Director, NICU

  • Neonatal resuscitation
  • Clinical simulation
  • Care of the extremely low birth weight newborn
  • Biostatistics/evidence-based medicine education

Kate Wilson, D.O. ([email protected])

  • Neonatal Infectious Diseases
  • Neonatal Hearing Loss