Newborn Medicine | Research & Innovation

The Newborn Cardiorespiratory Biology and Regenerative Medicine Program focuses on the biology and treatment of neonatal lung diseases and the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind conditions such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), congenital diaphragmatic hernia, and pulmonary hypertension, along with their long-term effects on child health. Key contributions include new knowledge on lung development, injury repair, and innovative therapies, such as stem cell-based treatments for neonatal lung diseases. Current clinical studies aim to optimize airway management, nutritional support, and long-term care for patients with BPD, helping to safely wean them from oxygen and support their growth and development.

The program is led by Stella Kourembanas, MD, with a team of scientists and clinicians, including:

• Jenna Katz, MD
• Kristen Leeman, MD
• Jonathan Levin, MD, MBI
• Philip Levy, MD
• S. Alex Mitsialis, PhD
• Stephanie Tung, MBBChBAO, MSc

We are also proud leaders in the BPD Collaborative, working with clinicians and scientists at Boston Children’s and nationwide to improve outcomes for infants with severe BPD through interdisciplinary collaboration, data sharing, and quality improvement initiatives.

The Developmental Neurobiology Program utilizes cutting edge basic, translational and clinical investigation for the advancement of neonatal neurocritical care and is led by multiple faculty in the division. Research conducted by Brian Kalish, MD, focuses on neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and brain injury of the preterm infant. Dr. Kalish also leads the Neonatal Neuroprotection and Neuroplasticity Program, working to translate laboratory discoveries into early phase clinical trials in infants with brain injury. Investigations by Alissa D’Gama, MD, PhD, focus on understanding the neurogenetic basis of neonatal neurologic conditions and the genetic basis of infantile epilepsy. Work by Ravi Raju, MD, seeks to understand the mechanisms by which early life experience and environmental exposures shape neurodevelopment.

The Fetal Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center is led by Ellen Grant, MD, with a team of scientists and clinicians, including:

• Kiho Im, PhD
• Yangming Ou, PhD
• Jason Sutin
• Ivy Lin, PhD

The center aims to develop novel neuroimaging techniques designed to accelerate imaging science and its application to the study of fetal and neonatal medicine. Grant and her team of subspecialty scientists in engineering, physics, and information technology have developed imaging tools — including a Baby MRI, BabyMEG, and NIRS — that delineate and understand the physiologic signature of the developing brain.

The Division of Newborn Medicine is at the forefront of newborn genetics and genomics research. We are committed to identifying molecular causes of diseases that present at an early age and developing interventions that will optimize child health. With this critical mission in mind, we have created the Neonatal Genomics Program with Monica Wojcik, MD, MPH, as director and Sarah Morton, MD, PhD, as director of the Neonatal Genomics Core Program. Within this program, our researchers combine state-of-the-art genomic sequencing technologies with cellular and experimental modeling to uncover the molecular causes of various neonatal conditions and identify potential therapeutic strategies. The Neonatal Genomics Program collaborates closely with the Manton Center Gene Discovery Core, Fetal Care and Surgery Center, Division of Genetics and Genomics, and several divisions and departments of Boston Children’s.

Led by Martha Sola-Visner, MD, and Patty Davenport, MD, the division is expanding a program focused on neonatal hematology and transfusion medicine to address this understudied area. The program seeks to better understand neonatal platelet biology and the mechanisms behind the harm associated with platelet transfusions, emphasizing immune rather than hemostatic functions. This translational research combines murine models and in vitro techniques to explore mechanistic questions while also conducting clinical investigations to establish safe platelet transfusion thresholds for preterm neonates and assess the risks and benefits in this vulnerable population. Boston Children’s is leading research in this field with an ongoing multicenter project on neonatal anemia, thrombocytopenia, and a planned trial on platelet transfusion thresholds for extremely preterm infants.

The Division of Newborn Medicine has developed strong expertise in medical ethics, enhancing our mission under the leadership of Christy Cummings, MD, a nationally recognized expert in the field. Anne Sullivan, MD, an expert in medical education, oversees the division’s observership programs and leads educational initiatives on the unit.

We’re also dedicated to supporting families by providing resources that promote their overall well-being and mental health during their child’s hospitalization. Tierney Morrison, MD, leads efforts to improve communication and education for parents of children in the NICU, delivering meaningful, data-driven resources tailored to each family's specific needs.

Our Neonatal Intestine and Immunity Program, led by Amy O’Connell, MD, was created to enhance the health of premature infants and newborns by advancing our understanding of the regulation and development of the neonatal intestinal and immune system. This multidisciplinary team uses various models, including advanced human cell technologies, to investigate normal development and disease processes in neonates. Key clinical disorders of focus include necrotizing enterocolitis, non-NEC enteropathy, immunodeficiency, and hospital-acquired infections. Our clinical studies aim to improve the diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency in premature infants, explore normal T-cell development following premature birth, and prevent infections in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Recognizing that 99 percent of neonatal deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, the Division of Newborn Medicine is committed to sharing our expertise globally to help reduce these preventable losses.

The Newborn Global Health Program is dedicated to improving neonatal survival in low-resource settings. Our work includes neonatal care guidelines, in-person and virtual training, medical device development, and clinical research, led by Anne Hanson, MD.