Investigators in the Department of Pediatrics faculty have a broad range of research interests. There are, however, a few areas of concentrated research interest, including: cardiovascular, pulmonary, and integrated biology; developmental neuroscience; global newborn health; newborn genomic medicine; and nutrition for mothers and infants.
Neonatal Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, and Integrated Biology
This research encompasses several laboratories focused on basic and translational scientific discoveries concerning pulmonary and cardiac disorders, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia and pulmonary hypertension as well as neonatal sepsis. Learn more about Neonatal Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, and Integrated Biology research.
Pediatric, Newborn and Fetal Developmental Neuroscience
Work by investigators of the Brigham Infant Brain Studies (BIBS) lab encompasses multimodal monitoring of the newborn brain, assessing and optimizing early neurosensory exposures, neuroprotective strategies and therapies, imaging the fetal and newborn brain, and assessing neurodevelopmental outcomes in high-risk infants throughout early childhood. Learn more about Pediatric, Newborn and Fetal Developmental Neuroscience research.
Parent Mental Health and Child Development
Dr. Cindy Liu and Dr. Carmina Erdei lead this group focused on the psychosocial experiences of families, including the assessment of psychosocial risk and protective factors that affect both parent mental health and child development outcomes. Learn more about the Developmental Risk and Cultural Resiliency Laboratory.
Global Advancement of Infants and Mothers (AIM)
Dr. Krysten North leads efforts to study and improve health for mothers and infants globally. Currently, the Global AIM laboratory conducts intervention studies to prevent preterm birth and fetal growth restriction, optimize nutrition of low birthweight infants, and improve the identification and management of vulnerable infants in low-resource settings. The team is using novel methods such as MRI and EEG to assess neurodevelopment among infants and young children in resource-constrained settings. They are also conducting a series of studies related to human milk composition including a randomized controlled trial of multiple micronutrient supplementation for lactating mothers. They work closely with partners including the World Health Organization to generate evidence to influence global child health policy. Learn more about the Global AIM Lab.
Newborn Genomic Medicine
All state mandated, supplemental and research newborn screening and diagnostic sequencing efforts at BWH are managed under this program. The program seeks to increase accessibility, shorten turn-around-time to results, lower costs and incorporate artificial intelligence-based interpretation of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) results through innovative technical optimizations of sequencing pipelines. Dr. Richard Parad was site principal investigator for Project 2 of the BabySeq Project that offered to new parents, as a screening test on their baby, whole exome sequencing of genes associated with Pediatric onset genetic disorders. He has also developed the only hospital-based supplemental Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy newborn screening program in the US, which is offered free to BWH parents. Learn more about Newborn Genomic Medicine.
Nutrition for Mothers and Infants
These researchers investigate the influences of maternal and/or infant nutritional intake and status on subsequent health outcomes of the newborn, growing infant, and child. Learn more about Nutrition for Mothers and Infants research.
