A core research interest is Pediatric Brain Injury and neuroprotection. Current work includes high-resolution small animal MRI to identify biomarkers of injury and therapeutic effect in animal models of pediatric cerebral ischemia. A combination of real-time imaging, conventional longitudinal imaging, and rodent behavioral testing is used to comprehensively assess neuro-developmental differences in the physiology of ischemia and reperfusion, and the response to neuroprotective interventions. Furthermore, in an effort to improve clinical outcomes and to create a framework for translating neuroprotective interventions to the clinical area, the Division of Pediatric Critical Care in collaboration with Developmental Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurology, and Neurosurgery are developing a clinical pediatric brain injury database which will correlate in-patient clinical data with follow-up neurodevelopmental assessments performed at the Waisman Center.
Another basic science research focus involves integrative cardiopulmonary physiology and pathophysiology as it occurs in isolated heart-lung preparations, non-anaesthetized animals and humans, with specific applications to the effects of exercise, acute hypoxia, altitude, hyperbaria and environmental exposure (particulates, endotoxin and ozone). Currently, specific research activities include the structural and functional regulation of inducible intrapulmonary shunt pathways and investigation of the pathophysiologic mechanism of spinal cord decompression injury.
The Divisional Research endeavors are well supported by extramural funding from a diverse collection of funding agencies including the NIH (R01, NHLBI; T32, NHLBI; PACT Contract, NHLBI; and a K12, Young Investigatory), the Department of Defense and the US Navy, and the American Heart Association.
Current Grant Support
NIH/NHLBI/University of Michigan, (R01 HL153519), “Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in Children and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) initiation strategies impact on Neuro-Development (ASCEND)” (2020-2025). Srinivasan, Subaward PI
Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ) and Johns Hopkins University (R01 HS023837), “Care transitions and teamwork in pediatric trauma: Implications for HIT design” (2015-2020). Brazelton, Co-Investigator