The Incubator
A weekly discussion about new evidence in neonatal care and the fascinating individuals who make this progress possible. Hosted by Dr. Ben Courchia and Dr. Daphna Yasova Barbeau.
#352 - đź“‘ Journal Club - The Complete Episode from September 14th 2025
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In this week’s Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review several recent neonatal studies with direct implications for practice.
They begin with the BORN trial from Italy, which investigated whether transfusing preterm infants with cord blood–derived red blood cells, rather than adult donor blood, could reduce severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). While the intention-to-treat analysis showed no difference, per-protocol findings suggest potential benefits that warrant larger trials.
Next, they review a large international cohort study of outcomes in infants born at 22–23 weeks, highlighting striking variability in survival and morbid...
#352 - [Journal Club Shorts] - đź“Ś EBNEO Commentary on Norepinephrine vs Dopamine in septic shock
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Dopamine versus epinephrine for neonatal septic shock: an open labeled, randomized controlled trial. Singh G, Bhaskar V, Batra P, Gupta P.J Perinatol. 2025 Aug 28. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02399-7. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40877444
EBNEO Commentary: Review of the 'Norepinephrine Versus Dopamine for Septic Shock in Neonates: A Randomised Controlled Trial'. Altit G.Acta Paediatr. 2025 Jul 23. doi: 10.1111/apa.70241. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40698742 No abstract available.
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#352 - [Journal Club Shorts] - 📌 What Are Outcomes for Infants Born at 22–23 Weeks Across 11 Countries?
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Outcomes of Preterm Infants Born at 22 to 23 Weeks' Gestation in 11 International Neonatal Networks. Isayama T, Norman M, Kusuda S, Reichman B, Lehtonen L, Lui K, Adams M, Vento Torres M, Filippi L, Battin M, Guinsburg R, Modi N, HĂĄkansson S, Klinger G, de Almeida MF, Helenius K, Bassler D, Su YC, Shah PS; International Network for Evaluation of Outcomes (iNeo) Investigators.JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Aug 25:e252958. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.2958. Online ahead of print.
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#352 - [Journal Club Shorts] - đź“Ś What is the Best Respiratory Predictor of Heart Rate Stabilization in Delivery Room Resuscitation
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Respiratory Targets Associated With Lung Aeration During Delivery Room Resuscitation of Preterm Neonates. Rub DM, Hsu JY, Weinberg DD, Felix M, Nadkarni VM, Te Pas AB, Kuypers KLAM, Davis PG, Ratcliffe SJ, Kirpalani HM, Foglia EE.JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Aug 11:e252521. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.2521. Online ahead of print.
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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and...
#352 - [Journal Club Shorts] - đź“Ś When and How Often Should We Screen for PH in BPD?
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Screening for pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia: when, how often and does it matter? Gentle SJ, Carlo WA, Ambalavanan N.Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025 Sep 5:fetalneonatal-2024-328405. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2024-328405. Online ahead of print.
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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode...
#352 - [Journal Club Shorts] - đź“Ś Should We Transfuse Cord Blood PRBCs Instead of Adult PRBCs to Prevent Severe ROP?
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Cord red blood cell transfusions for severe retinopathy in preterm neonates in Italy: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Teofili L, Papacci P, Pellegrino C, Dani C, Cresi F, Remaschi G, Ansaldi G, Giannantonio C, Campagnoli MF, Vania B, Fabbri M, de Vera d' Aragona RP, Molisso A, Beccastrini E, Dragonetti A, Pasciuto T, Gabbriellini S, Baroni S, Serrao F, Purcaro V, Raffaeli G, Villa S, Prati D, Mondello I, Falcone A, Patti ML, Boggini T, Bergamaschi P, Lepore D, Franco FGS, Orazi L, Mozzetta I, Baldascino A, Valentini CG, Locatelli E, Albiani R...
#352 - [Journal Club Shorts] - đź“Ś Does Atropine Improve Safety During Elective Neonatal Intubation?
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Atropine Versus Placebo for Neonatal Nonemergent Intubation: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Afifi J, El-Naggar W, Hatfield T, Sandila N, Baier J, Narvey M.J Pediatr. 2025 Jul 9;286:114719. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2025.114719. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40645282
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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on...
#352 - [Journal Club Shorts] - đź“Ś Can Continuous Glucose Monitoring Help Manage Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia?
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Continuous glucose monitoring in a neonate with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia and ABCC8 gene mutation. Iwańczyk P, Majewska A, Issat T, Hoffman-Zacharska D, Krajewski P, Lipska-Karpińska K.Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep. 2025 Jun 5;2025(2):e250002. doi: 10.1530/EDM-25-0002. Print 2025 Apr 1.
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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode ar...
#351 - 🌍 Improving Neonatal Care in Bamenda Cameroon (Ft Dr. Kate Kan)
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In this episode, Mbozu and Shelly-Ann are joined by Dr Kate Kan, Consultant Pediatrician and the director of the Neonatal Unit at theRegional hospital in Bamenda Cameroon. During the discussion, Dr Kan describes her journey from aspiring pediatrician to her current role as the head of the Neonatal Unit at her institution. She describes some of the challenges as well as the progress that is being made to improve neonatal care in her region.Â
Dr. Kan also highlights the impact of mentorship in her journey and shares her views on how men...
#350 - What Happened to You? Dena Hubbard on Curiosity, Compassion, and Changing Neonatology
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In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, Ben and Daphna sit down with Dr. Dena Hubbard, neonatologist and Director of Quality at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s NICU. Dr. Hubbard is widely recognized for her leadership in trauma-informed care, physician well-being, and advocacy work within the American Academy of Pediatrics.
She shares her journey from private practice to becoming a national voice for trauma-informed approaches in neonatal care. Dr. Hubbard explains how an early encounter with a NICU family transformed her understanding of parental stress, judgment, and resilience—and how that mome...
#349 - 🚀 NeoCarePal – The NICU’s New Digital Swiss Army Knife
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In this Tech Tuesday episode, Ben speaks with Jason Beyer, Business Unit Leader for the Care Franchise at Chiesi USA, about the development of NeoCarePal, a free mobile app designed to simplify daily workflows in the NICU.
NeoCarePal brings together a curated collection of the most commonly used neonatal calculators and formulas in one easy-to-use platform. Instead of searching across multiple sources, clinicians can access tools for glucose infusion rates, oxygenation index, gestational and corrected age, umbilical catheter positioning, endotracheal tube depth, Sarnat scoring, bilirubin management based on the 2022 guidelines, and...
#348 - 🚀 CPAP with Purpose: Supporting Babies in the Delivery Room and the NICU (Part 3)
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In this Tech Tuesday episode, Ben speaks with Laurence Gulliver, General Manager for Humidification at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. With nearly two decades at the company and a background in mechanical engineering and product development, Laurence has helped guide innovations that have shaped respiratory support for neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients worldwide.
The conversation explores the role of humidification in neonatal respiratory care and why it is often overlooked despite its impact on mucociliary function, secretion management, bronchoconstriction, and thermoregulation. Laurence explains the engineering challenges of delivering consistent humidity through ventilator circuits...
#347 -CPAP with Purpose: Supporting Babies in the Delivery Room and the NICU (Part 2)
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In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, Dr. Guilherme Sant’Anna, Professor of Pediatrics at McGill University, joins Ben and Daphna to discuss his team’s work on implementing an early bubble CPAP protocol in the delivery room. Although CPAP has long been considered standard practice for preterm infants, Dr. Sant’Anna explains why intubation rates remain high in the most immature babies and how his group sought to change this pattern.
The conversation reviews the background of the protocol, which began at McGill in 2014, and the cultural shift required to adopt...
#346 - CPAP with Purpose: Supporting Babies in the Delivery Room and the NICU (Part 1)
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In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, we welcome Dr. Cindy McEvoy, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Neonatal Research at OHSU, to discuss her work on the use of extended CPAP in preterm infants. CPAP has long been a cornerstone of neonatal care, but how long should stable infants remain on support? Dr. McEvoy shares findings from two randomized controlled trials that explored whether an additional two weeks of CPAP could promote lung growth and improve longer-term outcomes.
We review the physiologic rationale behind extended CPAP, including the role of...
#345 - 🔬Genetics and Neonatal Lung Disease: A Conversation with Dr. Jennifer Wambach
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In this episode of At-the-Bench, hosts David McCulley and Misty Good interview Dr. Jennifer Wambach, a neonatologist and researcher specializing in rare neonatal lung diseases. Dr. Wambach shares her journey into neonatology, her research on genetic lung diseases, and the importance of mentorship in developing future physician-scientists. The conversation also covers the Undiagnosed Diseases Network, current research on genetic lung diseases including ABCA3 deficiency, and the challenges faced in rare disease research. Dr. Wambach emphasizes the need for resilience and adaptability in scientific careers, offering valuable advice for early-career investigators.
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#344 - Neonatal Nephrology - A Year In Review
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In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, we sit down with Dr. David Askenazi, Dr. Heidi Steflik, and Dr. Kimmy Vuong to explore the latest research and practice shifts in neonatal nephrology. The discussion begins with the often-overlooked role of the kidney in the NICU and why kidney health has direct implications for outcomes far beyond discharge.
The group reviews three recent high-impact papers. The first, a secondary analysis of the PENUT trial, examines whether PDA treatment in extremely low gestational age infants influences two-year kidney outcomes, raising questions about long-term...
#344 - [Neonatal Nephrology Shorts] - đź“Ś Less Swelling, Fewer Vents Using the CAN-U-P-LOTS Checklist
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Reducing NICU ventilator days by preventing fluid overload with the CAN-U-P-LOTS standardized bundle.
Askenazi DJ, Gordon L, Griffin R, Collins M, Black A, Ambalavanan N, Webb T, Mathis M, Short K, Umberger A, Travers C.Pediatr Res. 2025 Jul 11. doi: 10.1038/s41390-025-04078-x. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40646283
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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their...
#344 - [Neonatal Nephrology Shorts] - 📌 Who’s Following the Kidneys After NICU Discharge?
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Kidney Health Monitoring in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Graduates: A Modified Delphi Consensus Statement.
Starr MC, Harer MW, Steflik HJ, Gorga S, Ambalavanan N, Beck TM, Chaudhry PM, Chmielewski JL, Defreitas MJ, Fuhrman DY, Hanna M, Joseph C, Kwiatkowski DM, Krawczeski CD, Liberio BM, Menon S, Mohamed TH, Rumpel JA, Sanderson KR, Schuh MP, Segar JL, Slagle CL, Soranno DE, Vuong KT, Charlton JR, Gist KM, Askenazi DJ, Selewski DT; Neonatal Kidney Health Consensus Workshop.JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Sep 3;7(9):e2435043. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.35043.PMID: 39269711 Free article.
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#344 - [Neonatal Nephrology Shorts] - đź“Ś PDA Treatment in ELGANs and Long-Term Kidney Function at Two Years
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Association of patent ductus arteriosus treatment in extremely low gestational age neonates with two year kidney outcomes: a secondary analysis of the preterm erythropoietin neuroprotection trial (PENUT).
Condit PE, Guillet R, Kaluarachchi D, Griffin RL, Menon S, Askenazi DJ, Harer MW.BMC Nephrol. 2025 Mar 19;26(1):138. doi: 10.1186/s12882-025-04065-8.PMID: 40108500 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact...
#343 - Investigating preterm birth and readmission to the PICU (Dr. Tim Van Hasselt)
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In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr Tim Van Hasselt, who is now a NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer and Neonatal Subspeciality Registrar (fellow-equivalent) at the University of Leicester, UK..Â
Tim describes his training in the UK, his pathway to doing his PhD in investigating the impact of preterm birth on readmissions to the PICU. We talk about how he went about finding his mentor and how the project came about. He used two national databases and investigated his research question, where he ultimately found that the odds o...
#342 - 👶 Parenting in the NICU: Lina’s Transformative Experience
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In this week’s episode of Beyond the Beeps, Leah and Lina explore the often-overlooked but critical role of communication in neonatal intensive care.
The discussion focuses on how clinicians can bridge the gap between technical expertise and human connection. They reflect on practical strategies for listening actively, explaining medical information clearly, and adjusting communication styles to meet the needs of parents and families in high-stress situations. Drawing on real experiences, they highlight the importance of empathy, collaboration, and presence at the bedside, while also addressing the challenges that arise when co...
#341 - đź“‘ Journal Club - The Complete Episode from August 17th 2025
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This week on Journal Club, we review five important studies with direct implications for your work in the NICU. First, we examine the newly released third-generation Fenton growth charts—how do they differ from previous versions, and what do they reveal about how we may have underestimated early growth trajectories in preterm infants? Next, we evaluate the association between retinopathy of prematurity and structural brain abnormalities on term-equivalent MRI—can ROP severity serve as a marker for broader neurologic vulnerability? We also look at a randomized trial assessing the safety and effectiveness of usin...
#341 - [Journal Club Shorts] - đź“Ś Does Sedation Worsen Diaphragm Weakness in Preterm Infants on the Ventilator?
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Impact of Sedation on Ventilator-Induced Diaphragmatic Dysfunction in Extremely Preterm Infants.
Hoshino Y, Arai J, Hirono K, Maruo K, Miura-Fuchino R, Yukitake Y, Kajikawa D, Kamakura T, Hinata A, Okada Y, Sato Y.Pediatr Pulmonol. 2025 May;60(5):e71126. doi: 10.1002/ppul.71126.PMID: 40365938
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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd...
#341 - [Journal Club Shorts] - đź“Ś EBNEO: Is Therapeutic Hypothermia Beneficial to Infants Born Between 33 and 35 Weeks Gestation?
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Whole-Body Hypothermia for Neonatal Encephalopathy in Preterm Infants 33 to 35 Weeks' Gestation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Faix RG, Laptook AR, Shankaran S, Eggleston B, Chowdhury D, Heyne RJ, Das A, Pedroza C, Tyson JE, Wusthoff C, Bonifacio SL, Sánchez PJ, Yoder BA, Laughon MM, Vasil DM, Van Meurs KP, Crawford MM, Higgins RD, Poindexter BB, Colaizy TT, Hamrick SEG, Chalak LF, Ohls RK, Hartley-McAndrew ME, Dysart K, D'Angio CT, Guillet R, Kicklighter SD, Carlo WA, Sokol GM, DeMauro SB, Hibbs AM, Cotten CM, Merhar SL, Bapat RV, Harmon HM, Sewell E, W...
#341 - [Journal Club Shorts] - đź“Ś New Fenton Growth Charts!
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Fenton Third-Generation Growth Charts of Preterm Infants Without Abnormal Fetal Growth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Fenton TR, Elmrayed S, Alshaikh BN.Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2025 Jun 19. doi: 10.1111/ppe.70035. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40534585 Review.
Birth weight and head circumference for 22-29 weeks gestation neonates from an international cohort.
Fenton TR, Alshaikh B, Kusuda S, Helenius K, Modi N, Norman M, Lui K, Lehtonen L, Battin M, Klinger G, Vento M, Lastrucci V, Gagliardi L, Adams M, Marba STM, Isayama T, Hakansson S, Bassler D...
#341 - [Journal Club Shorts] - đź“Ś Does ROP Signal Brain Injury in Preterm Infants?
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Retinopathy of Prematurity and Risk of Structural Brain Abnormalities on Magnetic Resonance Imaging at Term Among Infants Born at Less Than or Equal to 32 Weeks of Gestation.
Roy S, Peterson L, Kline-Fath B, Parikh NA; Cincinnati Infant Neurodevelopment Early Prediction Study (CINEPS) Investigators.J Pediatr. 2025 Jun 27;286:114711. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2025.114711. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40582695 Free article.
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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or...
#341 - [Journal Club Shorts] - đź“Ś Should you resuscitate preemies with 100% O2 during DCC?
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Deferred Cord Clamping With High Oxygen in Extremely Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Katheria AC, Ines F, Lee HC, Sollinger C, Vali P, Morales A, Sanjay S, Dorner R, Koo J, Gollin Y, Das A, Poeltler D, Steinhorn R, Finer N, Lakshminrusimha S.JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Jul 21:e252128. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.2128. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40690234
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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or...
#341 - [Journal Club Shorts] - đź“Ś Can Autologous Cord Blood Improve Neurodevelopment in the Extremely Preterm?
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Early Neurodevelopment of Extremely Preterm Infants Administered Autologous Cord Blood Cell Therapy: Secondary Analysis of a Nonrandomized Clinical Trial.
Zhou L, Razak A, McDonald CA, Yawno T, McHugh DT, Whiteley G, Connelly K, Sackett V, Miller SL, Jenkin G, Novak I, Hunt RW, Malhotra A.JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Jul 1;8(7):e2521158. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.21158.PMID: 40608334 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through...
#341 - [Journal Club Shorts] - đź“Ś Does Counting Ribs on Xray Estimate Lung Volume Accurately?
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Diaphragm Position on Chest Radiograph to Estimate Lung Volume in Neonates.
Dahm SI, Sett A, Gunn EF, Ramanauskas F, Hall R, Stewart D, Koeppenkastrop S, McKenna K, Gardiner RE, Rao P, Tingay DG.JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Jul 21:e252108. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.2108. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40690243 Free PMC article.
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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via...
#340 - 🌍 Driving Neonatal Progress in Rural Nigeria (ft. Dr. Olufunke Bolaji)
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In this episode, Mbozu interviews Dr. Olufunke Bolaji, consultant pediatrician and neonatologist at the Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti, shares her journey into neonatology, driven by mentorship, a love for children, and global learning experiences in Nigeria and the UK. She describes leading a high-performing neonatal unit in a rural Nigerian setting that has achieved Level 3 care, supported by strong hospital administration and collaborations.Â
Her research focuses on preterm births, neonatal sepsis, respiratory support, and newborn metrics, with emphasis on data-driven quality improvement. As a leader in the African Neonatal Association, she c...
#339 - The Giants of Neonatology: Dr. Edward Bell on Culture, Consistency, and Care at the Limits of Life
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Picture this: You’re caring for a 22-week infant, uncertain whether survival is even possible—and yet you remember that someone like Dr. Ed Bell has been quietly tracking cases just like this for decades.
In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, we welcome Dr. Edward Bell, Professor of Pediatrics and Associate Vice Chair for Faculty Development in Neonatology at the University of Iowa. A leader in the care of extremely preterm infants, Dr. Bell shares the origins of the Tiniest Babies Registry, his views on how viability has shifted over the...
#338 - 🚀 The BiliHut: Rethinking Phototherapy with Portability and Precision
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In this Tech Tuesday episode, Dr. Donna Brezinski, founder and CEO of Little Sparrows Technologies, joins the show to talk about the BiliHut — a portable, high-intensity phototherapy device designed to treat neonatal jaundice with both clinical effectiveness and practical usability in mind.
A neonatologist by training, Dr. Brezinski explains how her clinical experiences led to the development of the BiliHut, which delivers uniform phototherapy across the baby’s body while solving key issues like positioning errors, thermal regulation, and access for breastfeeding. Unlike traditional overhead lights or fiber-optic pads, the BiliHut is e...
#337 - Targeting NEC at the Cellular Level, A New Frontier in Research
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In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Garabet Yeretssian, PhD, Senior Program Manager at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), to discuss how collaborative infrastructure and emerging technologies are reshaping research into necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Garabet shares how his background in GI inflammation and rare diseases led him to focus on cross-disciplinary research support, including CZI’s Rare As One Network and its emphasis on patient-led science.
We explore how tools like single-cell transcriptomics, organoid modeling, and AI-driven biomarker discovery are helping scientists better understand NEC pathophysiology — and potentially iden...
#336 - Building a World Without NEC – A Conversation with Dr. Mark Underwood
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In this special collaboration with the NEC Society, Dr. Mark Underwood joins the podcast to discuss the evolving science and clinical approach to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). A long-time leader in neonatal nutrition and NEC prevention, Dr. Underwood shares his perspective on why prevention remains the most effective lever in tackling this devastating disease — from the irreplaceable role of maternal milk to the complex regulatory barriers around probiotics.
The conversation covers his recent articles unpacking the risks and benefits of formula, donor milk, and the current probiotic landscape in U.S. NICUs. Dr...
#335 - 👶 Siblings Are Also In the NICU
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In this episode of Beyond the Beeps, siblings of NICU babies share their personal experiences and insights on navigating life with a sibling in the NICU. They discuss the challenges, emotions, and responsibilities they faced, as well as the lessons learned about patience, awareness, and resilience. The conversation emphasizes the importance of support from parents and healthcare providers, and the need for open communication about the realities of having a sibling in the NICU. The siblings also reflect on their hopes for the future and the unique skills they have developed through their...
#334 - Neonatal Neurology - A Year in a Review (ft the Newborn Brain Society)
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In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, Daphna is joined by Dr. Pia Wintermark and Dr. Eleanor Molloy for a deep dive into the most impactful neonatal neurology studies of the past year. The discussion begins with a critical look at therapeutic hypothermia for mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and preterm infants, highlighting recent pilot trials that challenge the practice of expanding cooling beyond established guidelines. They dissect key findings from multicenter studies, examining safety, feasibility, and the unintended consequences of “therapeutic creep.”
The conversation then shifts to the importance of precise term...
#333 - Exploring Healthcare Utilization in Moderate to Late Preterm Infants with Dr. Ambika Bhatnagar
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In this episode of Rupa’s Fellows Friday on The Incubator Podcast, host Rupa Srirupa welcomes Dr. Ambika Bhatnagar, a third-year neonatology fellow at Yale. Dr. Bhatnagar shares her journey from medical school in India to fellowship in the U.S. and dives into her research focusing on moderate to late preterm infants—an often overlooked but significant portion of the preterm population.
She explains why this group, though not as critically ill as extremely preterm infants, still faces unique morbidities and places a substantial burden on families and the healthcare syst...
#332 - 🔬 Beyond Dexamethasone: The Future of Immune Therapies in the NICU
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In this episode, David McCulley and Betsy Crouch interview Dr. Benjamin Fensterheim, a neonatology physician scientist, who shares his journey through medical training, the inspiration behind his immunology research, and the importance of bridging the gap between basic science and clinical neonatology. The conversation delves into the challenges faced by physician scientists, the evolving landscape of neonatal care, and the need for innovative therapies in the NICU. Dr. Fensterheim emphasizes the significance of community and mentorship in supporting early-career researchers and advocates for the value of science in improving healthcare outcomes for infants.<...
#331 - đź“‘ Journal Club - The Complete Episode from July 20th 2025
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In this week’s Journal Club, Ben and Daphna dive into several impactful neonatal studies shaping today’s clinical decisions. The discussion opens with the MOCA Trial, exploring whether extending caffeine therapy in moderately preterm infants reduces hospital stays and improves outcomes. Despite reducing apnea episodes, the study highlights that extending caffeine treatment does not reduce time to discharge.
Next, the team reviews a randomized trial on late permissive hypercapnia in mechanically ventilated preterm infants, showing that targeting slightly higher COâ‚‚ levels can shorten invasive ventilation time without worsening long-term outcomes.
M...
#331 - [Journal Club Shorts] - đź“Ś Extended Caffeine Treatment in Moderately Preterm Infants Does Not Shorten Hospital Stay
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Extended Caffeine for Apnea in Moderately Preterm Infants: The MoCHA Randomized Clinical Trial.
Carlo WA, Eichenwald EC, Carper BA, Bell EF, Keszler M, Patel RM, Sánchez PJ, Goldberg RN, D'Angio CT, Van Meurs KP, Hibbs AM, Ambalavanan N, Cosby SS, Newman NS, Vohr BR, Walsh MC, Das A, Ohls RK, Fuller J, Rysavy MA, Ghavam S, Brion LP, Puopolo KM, Moore R, Baack ML, Colaizy TT, Baserga M, Osman AF, Merhar SL, Poindexter BB, DeMauro SB, Kumar V, Cotten CM; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human D...
