Research Projects & Grants

College/University

• Necrotizing enterocolitis and the benefits of breastfeeding (NEC milk screening study), Role: PI, University of California, San Diego, (11/2016 - 11/2017) Status: Completed
• Necrotizing Enterocolitis and the Benefits of Breastfeeding (Milk Screening Study), Role: Principal Investigator, University of California, San Diego, (03/2012 - 12/2014) Status: Closed

Federal

• Mechanisms of uterine artery hemodynamics adaptation to pregnancy and gestational hypoxia, Role: PD/PI, National Institutes of Health/DHHS, (06/2023 - 04/2025) Status: Awarded
• Acquisition of a Zeiss LSM 900 confocal microscope with Airyscan 2 for an Imaging and Microscopy Core, Role: Major User, National Institutes of Health/DHHS, (05/2023 - 05/2024) Status: Closed
• Mechanisms of newborn pulmonary hypertension caused by chronic intrauterine hypoxia, Role: PD/PI, National Institutes of Health/DHHS, (01/2022 - 11/2025) Status: Awarded
• Unravelling lung interoception and its functional consequence in the developing ovine lung, Role: PD/PI, National Institutes of Health/DHHS, (09/2021 - 08/2025) Status: Awarded
• Gestational Hypoxia and Programming of Maternal, Fetal and Newborn Vascular Function, Role: Co-Investigator, National Institutes of Health/DHHS, (07/2020 - 06/2025) Status: Awarded
• Gestational Hypoxia and Programming of Maternal, Fetal and Newborn Vascular Function, Role: Other Signifcant Contributor, National Institutes of Health/DHHS, (07/2020 - 06/2025) Status: Awarded
• Epigenetic Mechanisms of Developmental Regulation of Fetal, Newborn, and Adult Cerebral Artery Sympathetic Innervation and Alpha1 Adrenergic Receptor Subtypes, Role: Co-Investigator, National Institutes of Health/DHHS, (12/2016 - 11/2022) Status: Closed
• Gestational Hypoxia and Developmental Plasticity, Role: Co-Investigator, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/NIH/DHHS, (04/2016 - 02/2023) Status: Closed
• Gestational Hypoxia and Developmental Plasticity, Role: PD/PI, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/NIH/DHHS, (04/2016 - 02/2023) Status: Closed
• Role of nitrite and hemoglobin in vascular NO homeostasis in the fetus and adult, Role: PD/PI, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH/DHHS, (08/2009 - 05/2014) Status: Closed
• Pharmacokinetics of L-arginine in premature infants, Role: Principal Investigator, National Medical Technology Testbed, Inc., (02/2009 - 03/2011) Status: Closed

For Profit Organization

• A multicenter, randomized, open-label, controlled trial to assess the safety and tolerability of lucinactant for inhalation in preterm neonates 29 to 34 weeks PMA: dose escalation and study extension, Role: Investigator, Discovery Laboratories, Inc., (12/2015 - 12/2016) Status: Completed
• Prospective observational study of respiratory support provided to premature infants at risk for respiratory distress syndrome (03-CL-1402), Role: Investigator, Discovery Laboratories, Inc., (07/2015 - 07/2016) Status: Completed

Internal

• Evaluating the Impact of Social Factors in Predicting Developmental Outcomes in Infants< 32 weeks gestation and/or< 1500 grams, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (06/2024) Status: Approved
• De-identified data and tangible representations from gastroschisis cases between January 1994 and the present, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Gynecology & Obstetrics, (01/2025 - 01/2026) Status: Approved
• MIRNA in Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy study (MIRNAH), 20230310, Role: Investigator, LLU Basic Science, (06/2023) Status: Approved
• Characterizing HIE risk categories to identify the most weighted contributor in determining outcomes, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (04/2023) Status: Approved
• Predictor analysis of post ligation syndrome in percutaneous transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus in premature neonates, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (04/2023) Status: Approved
• Investigation into Physiologic Mechanisms of Intraneural Facilitation™, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Allied Health Studies, (12/2022) Status: Approved
• Fetal cardiac remodeling and delayed postnatal transitioning in infants born to mothers with preeclampsia, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (07/2022) Status: Approved
• Investigation into Potential Biological Mechanisms Influenced By Intraneural Facilitation Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Role: Other Significant Contributor, LLU - GRASP, (01/2022 - 12/2025) Status: Awarded
• Quantifying fetal reprogramming in preeclampsia-induced placental insufficiency for neonatal outcome correlation, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (05/2021) Status: Approved
• A pilot study evaluating the correlation between uterine blood flow and nitric oxide metabolite concentrations in the placental tissue and placental and maternal blood, Role: PI, LLU Center for Perinatal Biology, (12/2020) Status: Approved
• Effects of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on intra-abdominal pressure and acute kidney injury, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (10/2020 - 10/2021) Status: Completed
• The role of nitric oxide and its metabolites in mediating intrauterine growth restriction, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (08/2020 - 08/2021) Status: Completed
• ELISA-based detection of COVID-19 antibodies, Role: Investigator, LLU Basic Science, (04/2020) Status: Approved
• Estimation of gestational age via smartphone ophthalmoscope assessment of anterior lens capsule vascularity in preterm infants, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (07/2019 - 07/2020) Status: Completed
• The effect of packed red blood cell transfusion on pulmonary and gastrointestinal hemodynamics in newborn infants, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (05/2016 - 05/2017) Status: Completed
• Gastric nitric oxide production from nitrite in newborn infants, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (03/2015 - 03/2016) Status: Completed
• Rho-kinase inhibitors targeted to the pulmonary vascularture for treatment of pulmonary hypertension, Role: Co-Investigator, LLU School of Medicine, (02/2015 - 02/2017) Status: Closed
• Utility of amplitude integrated EEG in identifying infants with electrographic seizures predicting abnormal brain imaging and mortality, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (07/2013 - 07/2014) Status: Completed
• Plasma, urine, stool, gastric residual and saliva nitrite concentrations in preterm infants with NEC, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (01/2012 - 01/2013) Status: Completed
• Analysis of term and preterm newborn infants' saliva for nitrates, nitrites, and pH, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (10/2011 - 10/2012) Status: Completed
• Effects of antibacterial mouth rinses on nitrite-producing bacteria in the oral cavity, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (09/2011 - 09/2012) Status: Completed
• MRI-based measurement of oxygen saturation in blood samples of healthy human adults, Role: Investigator, LLU Center for Perinatal Biology, (08/2009 - 08/2010) Status: Completed
• The effect of inhaled nitric oxide on blood nitrite/nitrate concentrations, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (08/2009 - 08/2010) Status: Completed
• MRI-based measurement of oxygen saturation in blood samples from the human placenta, Role: Investigator, LLU Center for Perinatal Biology, (06/2009 - 06/2010) Status: Completed
• School of Medicine Seed Money Award, Role: Principal Investigator, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (02/2009 - 03/2012) Status: Closed
• Nitrite as a Source of Nitric Oxide in the Fetal Sheep, Role: Principal Investigator, John Mace Pediatric Research Fund, (04/2008 - 03/2009) Status: Closed
• The effect of chlorhexidine on oral and systemic nitrate and nitrite homeostasis, Role: PI, LLU School of Dentistry, (10/2006 - 10/2007) Status: Completed
• Pre-operative lung ultrasound score and its association with post-operative outcomes in infants with congenital cardiac defect, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (01/2025) Status: Approved

Non-Profit Organization

• Susceptibility weighted imaging as a marker of reduced cerebral oxygen in a newborn, Role: Co-Investigator, Society for Pediatric Radiology, (07/2019 - 01/2025) Status: Awarded
• Smartphone ophthalmoscope lens vascularity estimated gestational age, Role: PI, Gates (Bill and Melinda) Foundation, (12/2017 - 12/2018) Status: Completed
• Gates Grand Challenge - Gestational Age Estimation at Delivery, Role: Principal Investigator, RTI International, (07/2015 - 09/2017) Status: Closed
• Gates Grand Challenge - Gestational Age Estimation at Delivery, Role: Subproject PI, RTI International, (07/2015 - 09/2017) Status: Closed
• Gestational Age Estimation Using Smartphone Ophthalmoscope Lens Capsule Vascularity Imaging, Role: Principal Investigator, RTI International, (01/2015 - 12/2015) Status: Closed
• Use of accelerator mass spectrometry to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of ursodiol (Actigal®) in infants, Role: PI, Gerber Foundation, (06/2010 - 06/2011) Status: Completed
• ROLE OF THE SUPERIOR CERVICAL GANGLION IN CONTROL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW IN THE PREMATURE LAMB, Role: Principal Investigator, American Heart Association, (07/2009 - 06/2011) Status: Closed
• Pharmacokinetics of 14C-Ursodiol in newborn infants using accelerator mass spectrometry, Role: Principal Investigator, Gerber Foundation, (07/2007 - 06/2008) Status: Closed
• Evaluation of accelerator mass spectrometry to determine optimal drug dosages in infants., Role: Principal Investigator, Gerber Foundation, (07/2007 - 12/2010) Status: Closed
• The Interaction of Nitric Oxide and Hemoglobin in the Regulation of Pulmonary Vascular Tone, Role: Principal Investigator, American Thoracic Society, (01/2007 - 12/2008) Status: Closed