The candidate, Katherine E. Gregory, PhD, RN, aims to become an independent clinical investigator who will lead her field in an innovative program of patient-oriented research. Dr. Gregory's program of research will generate new models of disease pathogenesis and prediction using cutting-edge biochemical analysis (i.e. microbiome) and bioinformatic prediction strategies (i.e. metabolomics). As part of her research training and experience to date, she has identified clinical predictors of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants. This work has extended knowledge of antecedents of NEC well beyond prematurity and demographics. Dr. Gregory will remain focused on NEC, one of the major unsolved problems of neonatal care, the most common gastrointestinal emergency experienced by premature infants, and the leading reason for aberrant nutrition, growth and neurodevelopment in premature infants. New paradigms are needed to understand NEC etiology and pathobiology, which will aid in our prediction of this and other diseases. The central hypothesis of the research proposed is that NEC may be predicted in a population of extremely low gestational age neonates using non-serum based biologic sample (i.e. urine and stool). The use of urine for biomarker assays and stool for biochemical prediction techniques has the advantage of a noninvasive approach that would not deplete the low gestational age infant of an already limited blood volume. Dr. Gregory will train in the scientific methods related to the human microbiome of gastrointestinal disease pathogenesis under the mentorship of W. Allan Walker, MD. She will work under the mentorship of Bruce Kristal, PhD in conducting the metabolomic and bioinformatic analyses for the purpose of disease prediction. Finally, Dr. Gregory will be mentored by Linda Van Marter, MD, MPH in the clinical setting where she will collect biologic sample, develop a specimen bank for future analysis, and conduct an epidemiologic investigation of clinical factors related to NEC. This mentorship team has been selected for a diversity of research expertise in areas including gastrointestinal disease, nutrition, microbiome analysis, metabolomics, and cutting-edge neonatal research. In sum, the candidate will work with seasoned mentors in a world-class research environment. She will be successful in her research and training aims.

Public Health Relevance

Despite advances in neonatal intensive care and significant gains in premature infant survival, necrotizing enterocolitis remains one of the most significant complications of premature birth. Disease prediction, a priority area in patient-oriented research, will revolutionize how we take care of patients and improve human health. New paradigms are needed to understand the pathogenesis of NEC, which will aid in our ability to predict this disease and in turn improve care for premature infants.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
1K23NR011320-01
Application #
7707257
Study Section
National Institute of Nursing Research Initial Review Group (NRRC)
Program Officer
Weglicki, Linda
Project Start
2009-05-21
Project End
2012-04-30
Budget Start
2009-05-21
Budget End
2010-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$129,065
Indirect Cost
Name
Boston College
Department
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
045896339
City
Chestnut Hill
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02467
Pammi, Mohan; Cope, Julia; Tarr, Phillip I et al. (2017) Intestinal dysbiosis in preterm infants preceding necrotizing enterocolitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Microbiome 5:31
Gregory, Katherine E; Samuel, Buck S; Houghteling, Pearl et al. (2016) Influence of maternal breast milk ingestion on acquisition of the intestinal microbiome in preterm infants. Microbiome 4:68
Gregory, Katherine E; LaPlante, Rose D; Shan, Gururaj et al. (2015) Mode of Birth Influences Preterm Infant Intestinal Colonization With Bacteroides Over the Early Neonatal Period. Adv Neonatal Care 15:386-93
Gregory, Katherine E; Winston, Abigail B; Meller, Stephanie et al. (2015) Stooling pattern and early nutritional exposures associated with necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs 29:60-8
Zhou, Yanjiao; Shan, Gururaj; Sodergren, Erica et al. (2015) Longitudinal analysis of the premature infant intestinal microbiome prior to necrotizing enterocolitis: a case-control study. PLoS One 10:e0118632
Gregory, Katherine E; Winston, Abigail B; Yamamoto, Hidemi S et al. (2014) Urinary intestinal fatty acid binding protein predicts necrotizing enterocolitis. J Pediatr 164:1486-8
Gregory, Katherine E; Walker, W Allan (2013) Immunologic Factors in Human Milk and Disease Prevention in the Preterm Infant. Curr Pediatr Rep 1:
Gregory, Katherine E; Bird, Susan S; Gross, Vera S et al. (2013) Method development for fecal lipidomics profiling. Anal Chem 85:1114-23
Gregory, Katherine E; Radovinsky, Lucy (2012) Research strategies that result in optimal data collection from the patient medical record. Appl Nurs Res 25:108-16
Gregory, Katherine E; Deforge, Christine E; Natale, Kristan M et al. (2011) Necrotizing enterocolitis in the premature infant: neonatal nursing assessment, disease pathogenesis, and clinical presentation. Adv Neonatal Care 11:155-64; quiz 165-6

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