CHP Seminar Dr Kristin Ferguson

Bio: Kristin is a neonatal fellow at the Mercy Hospital for Women. She is the first neonatal trainee to be awarded a MACH-Track Fellowship, whereby she is supported to undertake a PhD alongside neonatal advanced training. Her primary research interest is in neonatal respiratory medicine, and will commence a PhD in 2025 addressing a fundamental question underlying all forms of respiratory support for extremely preterm infants: what are the optimal gas flows that provide adequate support to the neonatal lung without causing harm?

Abstract: Babies born extremely preterm (more than 3 months early) require life-saving breathing support, but many develop lung injury from these therapies. One possible reason for this injury is that gases (air and oxygen) are delivered too fast to their fragile lungs.

Dr Ferguson's PhD will include three clinical trials in extremely preterm infants during different modes of respiratory support: 1) resuscitation at birth; 2) mechanical ventilation (picture A); and 3) continuous positive airway pressure (picture B).

Dr Ferguson will study whether lower (4-6 litres/minute) compared to standard gas flows (8-10 litres/minute) during each of these modes of respiratory support can safely and effectively support the lungs of these vulnerable babies.

Date: Thursday 23 January 2025