The faculty in Neonatalogy have broad academic interests. Some examples include basic research in the developing lung, lung injury, the pulmonary vasculature, and the surfactant system, clinical research in the areas of prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, prevention of nosocomial infection, effect of varying levels of oxygen on neonatal premature infant resuscitation, and clinical academic interests in transport, resuscitation and osteopenia of prematurity.

Faculty have had Neonatology training in many different programs prior to coming to Buffalo including Children's Hospital of Philadelphia/University of Pennsylvania, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center/University of Cincinnati, University of Connecticut and University of Indiana. The information below provides specific areas of interest for each faculty member.

	Mahesh Bommaraju, M.D. Associate Professor of Pediatrics Medical Director, WCHOB Respiratory Therapy Dr. Bommaraju is interested in the area of pulmonary vascular biology and the nitric oxide pathway.  He has specific interests in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn and high frequency ventilation.
	Vivien Carrion, M.D. Associate Professor of Pediatrics Medical Director, Neonatal Transport Team Director, Neonatal Outreach Program Dr. Carrion’s research involves the study of the effect of vitamin A on the immune system of the premature neonate.  She also has academic interests in the area of neonatal hematology related to transfusion issues and practices, neonatal outreach and transport, and care of the extremely low birth weight infant.
	Bruce A. Holm, PhD Professor of Pediatrics, Ob-Gyn and Pharmacology Senior Vice Provost, State University of New York at BuffaloDirector, Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences Dr Holm’s research is comprised of three programs: 1. Surfactant abnormalities in lung prematurity, especially the study of surfactant replacement techniques and strategies, and collaborative strategies involving liquid ventilation. 2. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of acute lung injury, especially developing new treatments for ARDS including gene transfer of ion channels to reduce edema, and pharmacologic protection against oxidant-mediated lung injury and DNA damage. 3. Pathobiology of lung development utilizing a CDH pulmonary hypoplasia.
	Vasanth H. Kumar, M.D. Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Kumar’s basic research focuses on the mechanisms involved in the development of lung inflammation and repair in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants. He is currently directing the operation of a large research project utilizing a preterm ventilated sheep model to study the effects of inhaled Nitric Oxide on lung inflammation and pulmonary vasculature in preventing BPD. He is also examining the role of growth factors and cytokine expression in chronic lung injury model treated with iNO. His past research interests included studying the effects of beta agonists on surfactant secretion by type II cells. Additional academic interests include neuroprotective strategies in preventing IVH/PVL in preterm infants, birth asphyxia/HIE in term infants, hyperbilirubinemia, resident/fellow education, and international child health.
	Satyan Lakshminrushimha, M.D. Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Associate Director, Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Program Dr. Lakshminrushimha’s research is focused on pulmonary vascular biology during neonatal transition. He is currently evaluating the role of nitric oxide, natriuretic peptides and superoxide anions in mediating neonatal transition. He has utilized two different models of pulmonary hypertension – persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) following ductal ligation and high flow pulmonary hypertension following an aorto-pulmonary shunt. He is also interested in the effect of cyclic GMP on fetal lung fluid hemodynamics and surfactant release. His clinical interests include PPHN and Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN).
	Corinne L. Leach, M.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor of Pediatrics Neonatology QA Director Dr. Leach’s research involves studying the effect of UV light treatment of HVAC systems on nosocomial infection rate in the NICU.  Additional academic interests include pulmonary physiology, partial liquid ventilation, and steroid use in premature infants.
	Anne Marie Reynolds, MD, MPH Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Chair, NICU Family-Centered Care Committee Dr. Reynolds’ clinical research interests are focused on neonatal nutrition and infection.  She currently is examining the effect of human milk on nosocomial infection in very low birth weight infants.  Additional clinical interests include family centered care, systemic hypertension post-pulmonary hypertension and fellowship education.
	James A. Russell, Ph.D. Professor of Physiology and Pediatrics Dr. Russell’s research involves study of the complex systems involved in the regulation of vascular tone in the pulmonary vasculature. He is currently studying the effect of specific vasoactive compounds and their effects on isolated pulmonary arteries and veins derived from several different sheep models produced in Buffalo including the fetal ductal ligation PPHN model and an in utero pulmonary artery to aortic shunt model to produce pulmonary overcirculation prenatally which results in later PPHN. Dr. Russell has also been involved in studies examining the oxygen carrying ability of various artificial compounds.
	Rita M. Ryan, M.D. Associate Professor of Pediatrics Chief, Division of Neonatology Dr. Ryan’s research is primarily directed to the potential role for growth factors in the repair of the alveolar epithelium after lung injury and the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.  Dr. Ryan recently has focused on the effects of several specific growth factors including keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-a) on alveolar repair.  Dr. Ryan’s clinical research interests include neonatal ventilation, gastroesophageal reflux/aspiration and gram negative pneumonia in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and booster surfactant and surfactant dysfunction during the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
	Daniel D. Swartz, Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Swartz’s basic research focuses on the mechanisms involved in vascular remodeling during development and disease.  He is currently developing an in-vitro model system to study the effects of various flow parameters on vascular remodeling.  This in-vitro flow system involves the use of a tissue-engineered blood vessel (TEBV) that has also been developed by Dr. Swartz.  The TEBV is comprised of a medial layer of vascular smooth muscle cells, an adventitial layer of fibroblast and an endothelium possessing a monolayer of vascular endothelial cells.  Developmental remodeling is studied using the TEBV by the addition of various growth factors and changes in flow patterns.  Native vasculature from late term to adult animal models is also studied and compared to the in-vitro model system.   Differential development and response to disease is being studied looking at arterial vs. venous and systemic vs. pulmonary vascular beds through histological examination and functional reactivity.
	Ralph J. Wynn, M.D. Associate Professor of Pediatrics Medical Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Chief of Pediatrics, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital Dr. Wynn’s academic interests relate to neonatal resuscitation, transport and stabilization of ill neonates, and nutrition.
	William A. Zorn, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Pediatrics Director, Neonatal Follow-up Program Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Family Services Dr. Zorn directs the neurodevelopmental follow-up of the Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery patients as well as Family Services for the unit.  Dr. Zorn’s research primarily involves the neurodevelopmental outcomes of extremely low birth weight infants.  He has specifically been interested on the effect of varying surfactant regimens and of low dose hydrocortisone in this population.  Additional academic projects include clinical medical ethics, death and dying, and the psychosocial impact of neonatal intensive care on families.

Contact Information for the Division of Neonatology:

Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo
219 Bryant Street
Buffalo, NY 14222
(716) 878-7673
FAX (716) 878-7945