Current Research Projects

Basic and Translational Sciences

Basic and translational science are the driving force for medical innovation and improving patient outcomes. Our basic science research aims to provide fundamental insights into biological processes, disease mechanisms, and potential therapeutic targets, laying the foundation for future medical advancements. Ongoing basic science projects in the division include:

  • Mechanisms, treatment, and prevention of lung injury and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants
  • Functional properties of stem cells from term and preterm infants
  • Ontogeny of gluconeogenesis pathways, pancreatic development, and insulin resistance in premature infants
  • Glucose metabolism and effects of hyperglycemia in premature infants

The goal of our translational science research is to bridge the gap between the laboratory and the clinic, transforming our basic science discoveries into practical treatments, diagnostics, and preventive strategies. Ongoing translational science projects in the division include:

  • Parenteral and enteral nutrition in critically ill neonates
  • Regenerative medicine, including stem cell-based therapeutic approaches for hypoxic-ischemic injury and bronchopulmonary dysplasia
  • Utilizing precision medicine to predict bronchopulmonary dysplasia
  • Multi-omic approaches to understand the mechanisms of development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia

The division of Neonatology contains and staffs several basic science laboratories capable of performing a variety of techniques, including: biological sample collection and storage, protein extraction, DNA/RNA preparation, PCR, RNA-seq, western blotting, enzyme assays, ELISA, bead-based immunoassays, cell and tissue culture, cell fractionation, spectrophotometry, and flow cytometry.

Additionally, the division is home to a one-of-a-kind large animal model with a dedicated animal NICU for in-vivo studies. The unit is equipped and staffed to care for premature infants at borderline viability, normal term infants, and term infants with induced critical illness (for example, HIE).

Numerous research Centers and Institutes, as well as Core Laboratories led by internationally recognized faculty and operated by expert technical staff are also available to support all UTHealth research endeavors.

Clinical Investigations and Clinical Trials
Center for Childhood and Neonatal Clinical Research (CCNCR)

The Center for Childhood and Neonatal Clinical Research is dedicated to advancing pediatric healthcare through clinical research on innovative treatments, medications, and interventions for children and neonates. Collaborating with researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry partners, the CCNCR provides support to faculty and staff in the Department of Pediatrics with conducting clinical trials, while ensuring comprehensive care, safety, and support for participating children and their families. The center plays a crucial role in translating scientific discoveries into improved pediatric health outcomes.

Active CCNCR supported studies include:

  • Detecting atypical neonatal cries as a dimension of developmental neuropsychiatric disorders
  • An Open-label Extension Study to Evaluate the Long-term Safety and Efficacy of Maralixibat in the Treatment of Subjects with Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis (PFIC)
  • The NICU Antibiotics and Outcomes Trial (NANO)
  • Fatty Acid Induced Metabolomics (FAIM)
  • Texas Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Sequencing (Texas BPDSeq) Consortium
  • The Effects of Commercially Available Lipid Emulsions in Premature Infants
  • Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of pathogenic neonatal Escherichia coli strains
  • Cord clamping among neonates with congenital heart disease
  • Delivering Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation as an Adjunct Treatment for Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome
  • Parent Perspectives on the Acceptability and Adoptability of an Instructional Video on Early Relational Health in the NICU

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Antimicrobial Stewardship Support in South Texas (ASSIST) Program

Overutilization of antibiotics is a serious challenge facing the healthcare industry. Despite growing evidence of harm, the highest rates of overuse occur during the perinatal period. Antibiotic stewardship programs can help prevent antibiotic misuse; however, many rural and medically underserved centers lack support for these programs. The purpose of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Support in South Texas (ASSIST) Program is to provide telestewardship support to rural and medically underserved communities in South Texas.

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Family Nurture Intervention

Medical separation of infants from their parents interrupts the natural, nurturing interactions between mother and infant, creating trauma and potentially contributing to the development of neuropsychiatric disorders in both infants and mothers. The Family Nurture Intervention program aims to improve the emotional connection between mothers and infants in the NICU. Through the facilitation of trained Nurture Specialists, mothers assume an active role in caring for and interacting with their infant while they are hospitalized. The intervention was implemented as standard of care at University Hospital in 2021 and research on the intervention is ongoing.

PREMIEre Program

The PREMIEre program provides comprehensive care for infants with complex medical and developmental challenges due to prematurity, illness, or environmental factors. The program offers evaluations in growth, development, nutrition, speech, and behavior from NICU discharge until age five. Staffed by a multidisciplinary team, the program ensures early intervention, family education, and connection to services, supporting NICU survivors and their families. Established in 1979, the program serves around 800 patient visits annually, with about 120 new patients each year from throughout South Texas.

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