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.