Current research in NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics is focused on multiple quality improvement projects. We participate in the Children’s Hospitals’ Solutions for Patient Safety, a network of 145-plus children’s hospitals working to improve patient care. Our investigators strive to advance understanding of pediatric diseases with the goal of improving medical outcomes in infants, children, and adolescents.

Basic and Translational Research

Most of our basic and translational research takes place in the Division of Neonatal–Perinatal Medicine and the Women and Children’s Health Research Laboratory under the leadership of Nazeeh N. Hanna, MD, with substantial funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

We currently have research underway to better understand the role of COVID-19 in the development of pregnancy complications. Our researchers are examining the role of placental exosomes and microRNAs in mediating immune tolerance to COVID-19 infection, identifying novel biomarkers to predict preterm labor in patients with COVID-19, and discovering novel therapies for preterm labor in those with COVID-19.

Other areas of basic and translational research interest include developing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for swallowing difficulties in preterm infants and identifying novel components in breast milk that are protective against childhood diseases.

Clinical Research

The Division of Pediatric Hematology–Oncology is a member of the prestigious Children’s Oncology Group, which is dedicated to improving the outcome for all children with cancer. The division participates in cutting-edge research protocols for the treatment of childhood cancers, as well as a national Thalassemia Consortium.

The Division of Developmental–Behavioral Pediatrics participates in the Act Early Initiative of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the leadership of Romina M. Barros, MD, division chief and Act Early ambassador for New York State. The initiative fosters collaboration among early childhood programs in states, territories, and national programs throughout the United States so children with autism or other developmental disabilities can be identified early and get the services and support they and their families need.

Siham D. Accacha, MD, and the team in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology are part of the NIH clinical trials network monitoring the natural history of pediatric diabetes.

The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology is a leading participant in the national ImproveCareNow network to improve the health and care of children and youth with inflammatory bowel disease.

Several additional industry-sponsored clinical trials are conducted within the Divisions of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Neonatal–Perinatal Medicine, and Pediatric Endocrinology. Current investigations include development of a maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine and long-acting monoclonal antibody for prevention of RSV infection in infants, novel insulin preparations and long-acting growth hormone, and unique infant formulas and cold-feeding of premature infants.

Funding for our research projects comes from the NIH, Children’s Oncology Group, ImproveCareNow, the CDC, and industry partners.

Learn more about research at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine.