The Division of Pediatric Critical Care has an active clinical and basic science research program. Please see below to learn more about our investigators and their research efforts.
Kristina A. Betters, MD, MA
Dr. Betters' research interests are focused on early mobility, rehabilitation of the ICU patient, sedation, and delirium in critically ill children. She leads the multi-disciplinary Early Mobility Committee at VCH, which recently implemented an early mobility and communication protocol in the ICU and is studying associated outcomes. She is also part of the Vanderbilt Pediatric ICU Delirium Study Group.
Click here to learn more about Dr. Betters’ research.
Brian C. Bridges, MD, FAAP
Dr. Bridges joined the division of pediatric critical care in 2010. He has served as the medical director of ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) since 2011. He is actively involved in clinical research and has published multiple journal articles, reviews and book chapters that focus on the use of life support devices such as ECMO, continuous renal replacement therapy and plasma exchange therapy for children with organ failure refractory to conventional medical interventions.
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Hyehun Choi, PhD
Dr. Choi investigates the role of redox-based signaling in blood vessel inflammation. Her focus is on the pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and the impact of receptor endocytosis on its signaling in the vasculature. Specifically, she is interested in how TNFα receptor endocytosis impacts the balance of signaling processes that occur at the cell surface vs. within receptor containing “signaling” endosomes.
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William B. Cutrer, MD, MEd, FAAP
Dr. Cutrer is very interested in understanding how students learn in the workplace and how to help them more effectively. He has published and presented widely on these topics. He co-leads the AMA's Accelerating Change in Medical Education initiative Master Adaptive Learner Working Group and is the leader of the Vanderbilt core team participating in the AAMC pilot project Core Entrustable Professional Activities for Entering Residency (Core EPAs). Dr. Cutrer is also part of the National Transformation Network’s MedEdNext initiative to focus on Character, Competence, and Caring within medical education.
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Jennifer C. King, MD, PharmD
Dr. King is interested in medical education with an emphasis on medical simulation, procedural competency, and interprofessional learning. She is also interested in medication safety within the pediatric ICU with a particular research interest in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of medications in critically ill children.
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Fred Lamb, MD, PhD
Dr. Lamb has two primary areas of interest: the molecular biology of TNF-alpha signaling, specifically how reactive oxygen (superoxide anion) produced by NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1) in response to this cytokine supports signaling both at the cell surface and inside of endosomes, and the role of anion channels and transporters in the closure of the ductus arteriosus at the time of birth. His research regarding the role of anion channels and transporters in the closure of the ductus arteriosus at the time of birth is done in collaboration with Dr. Jeff Reese in the Division of Neonatology.
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Michael Miller, MD, PhD
Dr. Miller’s research focuses on the effects of the redox environment, its modulators, and their functional outcome on cellular and animal models of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). His work is focused on building upon the molecular pathways associated with the inflammatory response characteristic of the development of ARDS. Specifically, he is investigating extracellular superoxide dismutase (ecSOD), an enzyme the catalyzes superoxide to hydrogen peroxide, and how ecSOD modulates pro-inflammatory signaling in the NF-kB pathway. Additionally, he is seeking to determine the functional implications of ecSOD localization, its role in endothelial dysfunction, and how its interaction with the extracellular matrix alters its signaling properties.
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Neal R. Patel, MD, MPH
Dr. Patel's research interests include the development of a computerized database for the PCCU for quality assurance and clinical research as well as an electronic charting system for deep sedation services in collaboration with Integrated eMed Solutions.
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Jeffrey C. Rohrbough, PhD
Dr. Rohrbough investigates the ion transport properties of the ClC-3 2 Cl-/1 H exchanger and the LRRC8 (VRAC) chloride channel, and developmental chloride conductances in the ductus arteriosus. He uses electrophysiological recordings (whole cell, perforated patch and intracellular recordings), confocal microscopy, and optical cellular recording of intracellular Cl- and pH. Dr. Rohrbough received his training in Neuroscience at the University of California Los Angeles. His earlier work focused largely on synaptic development, including the functional development of voltage-gated ion channels and multiple classes of synaptic transmitter receptors (GluR, GABAR, AChR) in vertebrate spinal neurons, and the development and genetic regulation of glutamatergic synaptic function in Drosophila.
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Ryan Stark, MD
Dr. Stark focuses on the inflammatory effect infection has on the vascular endothelium. His specific focus is on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) which regulates many key functions of endothelial cells, namely vasomotor tone, cellular adhesion to myeloid cells and endothelial permeability. He further examines how eNOS interacts with toll-like receptors, crucial receptors in infection-mediated inflammation, with an overarching goal of understanding endothelial dysfunction during severe infections.
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Jessica Turnbull, MD, MA
Dr. Turnbull is interested in the care of chronically critically ill children at times of acute critical illness, communication with patients and their families, interdisciplinary communication, clinical ethics and palliative care in times of critical illness.
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