Research Incubator to Optimize the Use of Human Milk in the NICU
The bed-to-bench-to-bed approach brings together neonatologists, nurses, dietitians, human milk specialists, and researchers to discuss current feeding practices and identify knowledge gaps that can be addressed with systematic and rigorous studies. The goal is to optimize infant nutrition in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to improve survival, growth and the best possible health outcomes of small vulnerable newborns (SVNs).
Together with the Research Incubator for Donor Human Milk and Milk Banking, the Research Incubator to Optimize the Use of Human Milk in the NICU addresses the larger theme on how to provide "the right milk, to the right baby, at the right time."
The incubator meets every two weeks. In addition, researchers visit the clinical setting and clinicians visit the research labs to fully leverage the complementary expertise of all team members.
Current group members
(in alphabetic order of last name)
- Lillian Blank, B.S. - Staff Research Associate, Mestan lab, UC San Diego / Rady Children's Hospital
- Lars Bode, PhD - Professor of Pediatrics, UC San Diego
- Annalee Furst, M.S. - Research Manager, Bode lab, UC San Diego
- Jacqueline Keller MS, RD, CSP, CNSC - Principal Dietitian NICU, UC San Diego Health
- Sarah Lazar, MPH - Clinical Research Manager, Neonatology, UC San Diego / Rady Children's Hospital
- Sydney McCune, PhD RDN - MOMI CORE Clinical Translational Postdoctoral Fellow, UC San Diego
- Karen Mestan, MS, MD - Division Chief Neonatology, UC San Diego / Rady Children's Hospital
- Janu Newar, PhD - Staff Research Associate IV, Mestan lab, UC San Diego
- Katherine Weiss, MD - Associate Professor Neonatology, UC San Diego / Rady Children's Hospital
- Le Lee Yap, MS, RD, CNSC - Clinical Dietitian NICU, UC San Diego Health
