Description of Research Expertise

I am a child neurologist with expertise in the care of the critically ill infants and children. My clinical practice informs my research endeavors as I try to understand how the delivery of care affects cerebral blood flow and brain metabolic use of oxygen. My research uses non-invasive imaging techniques, including MRI and Optics, which, when combined, offer both high anatomic resolution and time sensitivity.

As a consequence of my research in infants with severe congenital heart defects, I have begun exploring fetal research. I have developed an MRI technique to qualitatively assess fetal brain development as a tool to monitor fetal brain health. This is now being used to monitor a drug trial for a neuroprotective agent for fetuses identified with severe congenital heart defects. I am currently leading research to non-invasively image placental anatomy and function.

Description of Clinical Expertise

My clinical expertise is in the neurological care for children who are critically ill infants and children. I am the neurology liaison to the cardiac intensive care unit and am a consult attending for the Neonatal, Pediatric and Cardiac intensive care units. My special interests are the neurologic complications in the care of congenital cardiac disease and I am also an expert in pediatric stroke and founding member of the pediatric stroke team at CHOP.

My interests in congenital malformations including congenital heart defects and congenital diaphragmatic hernia, have recently led me to the relatively new field of Fetal Neurology. I am currently the only neurologist to perform Fetal Neurology consults to optimize the care for infants with congenital malformations.