The Division of Neonatology at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics is dedicated to discovering and pioneering the latest treatment methods through innovative clinical research. Our research studies have lead to significant breakthroughs in neonatology care, leading the way for enhanced treatment and better overall outcomes for our patients.

For nearly 40 years, Children's Mercy has been a leader in neonatal research, with focused expertise in chronic lung disease. As a pioneer in nitric oxide therapy, we're investigating advanced treatments in our new Center for Infant Pulmonary Disorders.

Areas of clinical research emphasis include:

• Lung development
• Nutrition
• Pharmokinetics
• Genomics
• Long-term outcomes
• Quality improvement
• Rapid-cycle change process

Clinical Research Program

Clinical research within the Division of Neonatology is focused on lung development, nutrition, pharmokinetics, genomics and long-term outcomes.

For example, with research published in 2003, Children's Mercy Hospital was one of first institutions to scientifically verify that low birth weight, premature newborns are at risk for long-term pulmonary deficits. That research, led by Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Division Director Howard Kilbride, MD, found that older children and adolescents who are survivors of extreme prematurity had lower maximal mid-expiratory flow and peak expiratory flow rates and lower aerobic capacity compared to a control group. 

Twenty percent of the survivors of the extreme prematurity group had clinically abnormal pulmonary function. In collaboration with the Divisions of Cardiology and Pulmonology, Dr. Kilbride is investigating whether these children continue to be at elevated risk for impaired cardiopulmonary function and exercise-related problems as they get older.

Through collaboration with clinical coordinators, quality improvement coordinators and data managers, the division promotes research that will improve care and outcomes for infants admitted to the NICU. A secondary emphasis in clinical research relates to the faculty's commitment to quality improvement and rapid-cycle change processes.

Center for Infant Pulmonary Disorders
At the Center for Infant Pulmonary Disorders, physicians, physician-scientists and other researchers investigate, diagnose and treat the complexities of lung injury in premature and full-term newborns. Learn more about the Center for Infant Pulmonary Disorders.

Donald W. Thibeault Neonatal Research Laboratory
The Donald W. Thibeault Neonatal Research Laboratory focuses on developmental lung biology and uses lung cell culture and animal models to understand how oxygen supplementation and oxidative stress cause pulmonary cell death, neonatal lung injury and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Learn more about the Donald W. Thibeault Neonatal Research Laboratory.

2011 Neonatology Research Highlights

Peer-Reviewed Articles

Janvier A, Okah FA, Farlow B, Lantos JD. Ethics rounds: A baby with trisomy 18 and a ventricular septal defect. Pediatrics 127(4): 754-759 (2011)

Liu Y, Cai J, Hoff, GL, Hong L, Okah FA. Demographic risk factors affecting emergency room visits caused by benzodiazepine poisoning in Kansas City, Missouri, from 2001 to 2007. Int J Pharm Prac 19: 166-170 (2011)

Nyp MF, Drake W, Kilbride H.  Prenatal ductal thrombosis presenting as cyanotic heart lesion. J Perinatol 31(10): 685-686 (2011)

Oschman A, Gansen W, Kilbride H, Sandritter T. Safety and efficacy of two potassium cocktail formulations for treatment of neonatal hyperkalemia. Ann Pharmacother 45: 1371-1377 (2011)

Perez RE, Navarro A, Rezaiekhaligh MH, Mabry SM, Ekekezie II. TRIP-1 regulates TGF-b1 induced epithelial mesenchymal transition of the human lung epithelial cell line A549. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 300 (5): L799-807 (2011)

Weiner J, Sharma J, Lantos J, Kilbride H. How infants die in the neonatal intensive care unit: Trends from 1999 to 2008.  Arch Pediatr Adoles Med 165(7): 630-634 (2011)

Scientific Presentations - Oral or Poster Format

Nyp MF, Khmour A, Haney B, Pallotto E "Neonatal Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernias Requiring ECMO support:  A Search for Modifiable Risk to Decrease Mortality"  Children's National Medical Center ECMO conference, Keystone, Colorado, February 2011 [Oral]

Olsen SL, Park ND, Rasa JM, Smith KG, Palmer RL, Mercer A, Knutson A, Younger DC, Anderson  ME "Preemies Deserve More - Go for 4!!: Implementation of TPN Guidelines with a Protein Goal of 4 gm/kg/day" Vermont Oxford Network, Dallas, TX, May 2011 [Poster]

Olsen SL, Park ND, Rasa JM, Palmer RL, Anderson ME, Orrick AK, Knutson A, Smith D, Mercer  A, Younger DC "Are We There Yet?: A NICU Nutrition Roadtrip" Vermont Oxford Network, Washington, DC, December 2011 [Poster]

Liu Y Cai J, Hoff GL, Hong L, Okah FA "Increase in Intentional Fatal Poisoning by Noxious Substances in Kansas City, MO, 1999 to 2008" Annual International Meeting of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, Baltimore, MD, May 2011 [Poster]

Wolff D, Okah FA, Boos V, Ashbaugh J, Graves C, Haney B "Dissonance in Perceptions of NICU Professionals When Discussing Cases That Evoke Moral Distress" Pediatric Academic Societies, Denver, CO, May 2011 [Poster]

Okah FA, Hoff GL, Cai J, Liu Y "Pregnancy Smoking Among African Americans - Is the Environment Wholly to Blame for Refractoriness to Change?" Society of Behavioral Medicine, Washington DC, April 2011 [Oral]

Murthy K, Pallotto EK, Padula MA, Durand DJ, Short BL, Reber KM, Dykes FD, Asselin JM, Evans JR "Children's Hospital Neonatal Database (CHND): A  Profile of Participating Sites in a National Benchmarking Project"  Pediatric Academic Societies', Denver, CO,  April 2011 [Poster]

Pallotto  EK, Piazza AJ, Brozanski BS, Grover T, Smith JR, Distler A, Holston M, Moran S, O'Connor T, Chuo J "Improving the Health of Neonates:  Establishing a Collaborative QI Process for Level 3C Children's Hospitals NICUs" Pediatric Academic Societies' Annual Meeting, Denver, CO,  April 2011 [Poster]

Pallotto EK, Chuo J, Piazza AJ, Smith JR, Grover T, Distler A, Holston M, O'Connor T, Moran S, Murthy K, Brozanski B "Using a Multi-Center Collaborative Model to Derive Testable Recommendations for Reducing CLABSIs in Level 3C Children's Hospital NICUs" Pediatric Academic Societies' Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, April 2011 [Poster]

Navarro A, Mabry SM, Rezaiekhaligh MO, Perez RE, Ekekezie II "TIMP-1 Modulates Alveolar Macrophage Maturation by Regulating PU.1 Expression" Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting, Denver, CO, April 2011 [Poster]

Weiner J, Sharma J, Kilbride H "End-of-Life Decisions Differ for Very Preterm Infants in the NICU" AAP NCE, Boston, MA, October 2011 [Poster]