Infants who are cared for in the NICU have unique health care needs, and neonatal kidney health is an important part of care in the NICU for both short- and long-term health outcomes. The Neonatal Kidney Health program features the combined experience and expertise of neonatologists and pediatric nephrologists to provide cutting-edge, evidence-based care.
Faculty from the Division of Neonatology collaborate locally, nationally and internationally to perform clinical research and quality improvement, as well as bench-to-bedside-back to bench translational research, with the goal of improving neonatal kidney health and outcomes. This program is informed by the division’s robust translational research program and spans inpatient NICU stay as well as outpatient follow-up to ensure optimal kidney health throughout a child’s life.
Mentoring and National Presence
Faculty from the program mentor and train those interested in neonatal kidney health from undergraduate students to early faculty. As the field continues to grow, the Neonatal Kidney Health program is committed to positioning itself as a leader.
Program members hold leadership roles across multiple professional organizations and national collaboratives, and are actively engaged in several landmark, multicenter research and learning health initiatives, including ICONIIC (Improving CRRT Outcomes in Neonates and Infants through Interdisciplinary Collaboration), AWAKEN 2.0, and other national efforts focused on improving kidney health outcomes for neonates and infants.
Conditions treated
- Acute kidney injury (AKI)
- Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT)
- Neonatal indications for dialysis (acidosis, inborn errors of metabolism, uremia, pathologic positive fluid balance)
- Neonatal hypertension
- Baseline kidney health monitoring for NICU patients at risk for acute kidney injury
Clinical Services
- Dedicated acute kidney injury identification program
- Neonatal acute kidney injury outpatient follow-up clinic to ensure continued kidney recovery and health outside of the NICU
- Neonatal dialysis capabilities and modalities
Recent Publications
Slagle CL, Vuong KT, Krallman KA, Casey L, Gist KM, Jetton JG, Joseph C, Luckritz K, Martin SD, Morgan J. The Journal of Pediatrics 288:114838 Jan 2026
Starr MC, Patel M, Zafar F, Zhou MS, Griffin R, Biruete A, Cockovski V, Gbadegesin R, Fuhrman DY, Gist KM. Pediatric Nephrology 40(11):3379-3389 Nov 2025
Slagle CL, Rusell C, Ceschia G, Stergar A, Morgan J, Snyder A, Plute E, Rose JE, Starr M, Chawla AK. Blood Purification 1-7 16 Oct 2025
Starr MC, Hardy AC, Chaudhry P, Slagle CL, Gilley SP, Soranno DE. American Journal of Perinatology 24 Jun 2025
Kotlik M, Holland B, Lowe K, Wallace S, Latimer A, Chmielewski JL, Chaudhry P, Soranno DE, Slagle CL, Starr MC. Journal of Perinatology 45(1):101-103 Jan 2025
Slagle CL, Hemmelgarn T, Gavigan HW, Krallman KA, Goldstein SL. Journal of Perinatology 44(12):1780-1785 Dec 2024
Starr MC, Harer MW, Steflik HJ, Gorga S, Ambalavanan N, Beck TM, Chaudhry PM, Chmielewski JL, Defreitas MJ, Fuhrman DY. JAMA Network Open 7(9):e2435043 03 Sep 2024
