My research is focused on improving care of the preterm infant with necrotizing enterocolitis, specifically identifying noninvasive biomarkers that will improve management of infants with this disease in order to improve outcomes and decrease mortality and morbidity.

Program of Research

Leanne Nantais-Smith Ph.D., RN, NNP-BC, College of Nursing Associate Clinical Professor at Wayne State University, has focused her research on identification of noninvasive biomarker to diagnose and validate recovery from necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), an inflammatory bowel disease in extremely preterm infants. Identification of these markers will improve management of infants with NEC and improve outcomes. Her pilot study, which was funded by the Ada Jacox Research Award and the College of Nursing Research Award, focused on the feasibility of measuring specific noninvasive biomarkers in small urine and stool samples collected at time of NEC diagnosis. Phase II of the NEC Biomarker study will focus on multi-center prospective noninvasive sample collection from extremely preterm infants for investigation of biomarkers for diagnosis and the recovery phase of NEC.

Current Research

• Noninvasive NEC biomarkers (diagnosis and recovery)

Populations of interests

• Preterm infants
• All populations
• All specialties, focus NNP
• Neonates and families

← Return to listing