Information

Related Research Units

Newborn Medicine Research

Research Overview

My research focuses on improving the care of newborns seriously ill with medical and surgical conditions as well as those in resource limited settings. For medical patients, I am collaborating with engineers and industry to develop a Central Venous Catheter with decreased propensity for infection or clot formation have examined innovative approaches to the treatment of neonatal conditions including intraventricular urokinase for the prevention of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus, once daily gentamicin dosing for infants, substitution of cord for infant blood in peri¬natal sepsis evaluations, and inhaled racemic epinephrine for the treatments of TTN. I developed and implemented the first therapeutic hypothermia program in New England. I am a coeditor of the Manual of Neonatal Care, now in its 8thedition. For surgical patients, I am collaborating with a BCH based surgeon to develop a novel, minimally invasive approach to esophageal growth induction for patients with long gap esophageal atresia. I was lead investigator in a study of Donation after Cardiac Death (DCD) in the NICU. I am co¬editor of the Manual of Neonatal Surgical Intensive care, now in its 3rd edition.

Using my experiences from the CHB NICU, I am working on several neonatology projects for the resource limited setting. In collaboration with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Institute for Globally Transformative Technologies, I am developing an inexpensive nonelectric infant warmer that we have tested successfully in Rwanda and are now working to scale nationally. In partnership with the Rwandan Ministry of Health (MOH), I helped to develop and implement a package of newborn medicine materials for Rwanda that was accepted as the national standard for neonatal care. We have written the 2nd edition and conducted national trainings with nurses and doctors from all Rwandan provincial hospitals. We are now working to produce videos of these trainings, taught by Rwandan doctors and nurses through OPENPediatrics, a web-based, open access learning platform supported by Boston Children's Hospital with a goal to provide high-quality video education to pediatricians around the world.

Research Background

Anne Hansen received her MD from Harvard Medical School and her MPH from Harvard School of Public Health with a concentration in Clinical Effectiveness. She completed pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital Boston and fellowship in Newborn Medicine at Children’s Hospital Boston, Beth Israel Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Hansen joined the Harvard Medical School faculty in 1996 and is currently an Associate Professor of Pediatrics. Dr. Hansen has acted as Chair of the Harvard¬wide Neonatal Research Review Committee since 2004, and as Neonatology Consultant for the Rwinkwavu, Kirehe and Butaro Hospitals in Rwanda since 2010. She is a member of multiple committees, including the Boston Children’s Hospital Steering Committee (Medical chair), the Harvard Neonatal¬-Perinatal Medicine Training Program Fellowship Committee, the NICU Nutrition Committee, and the Neonatology Representative for the Advanced Fetal Care Center at Children’s Hospital Boston. She is also a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Hansen has been nominated for the Harvard Medical School Prize for Excellence in Teaching twice, the Harvard Medical School Humanism in Medicine Award, and was awarded the Best Tutor of the Year Harvard Medical School Teaching Award.

 

Education

Undergraduate School

Haverford College
1985 Haverford PA

Medical School

Harvard Medical School
1990 Boston MA

Internship

Boston Children's Hospital
1991 Boston MA

Residency

Boston Children's Hospital
1993 Boston MA

Graduate School

MPH Harvard University School of Public Health
1995 Boston MA

Fellowship

Joint Program in Neonatology Boston Children's Hospital
1996 Boston MA

Publications

  1. An Implementation Science Study of a Heat-Producing Wrap to Complement KMC in Rwanda. Ann Glob Health. 2024; 90(1):49. View Abstract
  2. Recognizing neonatal refeeding syndrome and thiamin supplementation: A case report. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2023 03; 47(3):437-441. View Abstract
  3. The 21st Century Cures Act: Perspectives of Clinicians in a Level-IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Am J Perinatol. 2024 03; 41(4):511-514. View Abstract
  4. A mixed methods study of perceptions of bias among neonatal intensive care unit staff. Pediatr Res. 2023 05; 93(6):1672-1678. View Abstract
  5. A Multimodal Approach to Training Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Processes Across Four Intensive Care Units. Clin Simul Nurs. 2023 Mar; 76:39-46. View Abstract
  6. Parent and staff perspectives on the benefits and barriers to communication with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. J Child Health Care. 2023 09; 27(3):410-423. View Abstract
  7. Reducing Benzodiazepine Exposure by Instituting a Guideline for Dexmedetomidine Usage in the NICU. Pediatrics. 2021 11; 148(5). View Abstract
  8. Mortality in the neonatal intensive care unit: improving the accuracy of death reporting. J Perinatol. 2022 05; 42(5):671-676. View Abstract
  9. Need for more evidence in the prevention and management of perinatal asphyxia and neonatal encephalopathy in low and middle-income countries: A call for action. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2021 10; 26(5):101271. View Abstract
  10. Protease inhibitor plasma concentrations associate with COVID-19 infection. Oxf Open Immunol. 2021; 2(1):iqab014. View Abstract
  11. Safety and effectiveness of a non-electric infant warmer for hypothermia in Rwanda: A cluster-randomized stepped-wedge trial. EClinicalMedicine, The Lancet. 2021; 34:100842. PMID: 33997734. View Abstract
  12. Inverse Opal Films for Medical Sensing: Application in Diagnosis of Neonatal Jaundice. Adv Healthc Mater. 2021 02; 10(4):e2001326. View Abstract
  13. Neurophysiological Assessment of Prolonged Recovery From Neuromuscular Blockade in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Front Pediatr. 2020; 8:580. View Abstract
  14. Neurologic Injury and Brain Growth in the Setting of Long-Gap Esophageal Atresia Perioperative Critical Care: A Pilot Study. Brain Sci. 2019 Dec 17; 9(12). View Abstract
  15. Performance of a Nonelectric Infant Warmer in Rwandan Health Centers. Glob Pediatr Health. 2019; 6:2333794X19884820. View Abstract
  16. Nutritive sucking abnormalities and brain microstructural abnormalities in infants with established brain injury: a pilot study. J Perinatol. 2019 11; 39(11):1498-1508. View Abstract
  17. Improving Access to Lactation Consultation and Early Breast Milk Use in an Outborn NICU. Pediatr Qual Saf. 2019 Jan-Feb; 4(1):e130. View Abstract
  18. Early Management of Infants With Robin Sequence: An International Survey and Algorithm. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2019 Jan; 77(1):136-156. View Abstract
  19. Reducing time to initiation and advancement of enteral feeding in an all-referral neonatal intensive care unit. J Perinatol. 2018 07; 38(7):936-943. View Abstract
  20. Implementation of a Guideline to Decrease Use of Acid-Suppressing Medications in the NICU. Pediatrics. 2017 Dec; 140(6). View Abstract
  21. Progressive IgA Nephropathy Is Associated With Low Circulating Mannan-Binding Lectin-Associated Serine Protease-3 (MASP-3) and Increased Glomerular Factor H-Related Protein-5 (FHR5) Deposition. Kidney Int Rep. 2018 Mar; 3(2):426-438. View Abstract
  22. A Regional Evaluation of Survival of Infants with End-Stage Renal Disease. Neonatology. 2017; 112(1):73-79. View Abstract
  23. The Development and Implementation of a Newborn Medicine Program in a Resource Limited Setting . Public Health Action. 2015. View Abstract
  24. A bioinspired omniphobic surface coating on medical devices prevents thrombosis and biofouling. Nat Biotechnol. 2014 Nov; 32(11):1134-40. View Abstract
  25. Falls and comorbidity: the pathway to fractures. Scand J Public Health. 2014 May; 42(3):287-94. View Abstract
  26. Developing a quality and safety curriculum for fellows: lessons learned from a neonatology fellowship program. Acad Pediatr. 2014 Jan-Feb; 14(1):47-53. View Abstract
  27. Whole genome sequencing identifies SCN2A mutation in monozygotic twins with Ohtahara syndrome and unique neuropathologic findings. Epilepsia. 2013 May; 54(5):e81-5. View Abstract
  28. Placental pathology in asphyxiated newborns meeting the criteria for therapeutic hypothermia. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Dec; 203(6):579.e1-9. View Abstract
  29. Can induced hypothermia be assured during brain MRI in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy? Pediatr Radiol. 2010 Dec; 40(12):1950-4. View Abstract
  30. Donation after cardiac death: the potential contribution of an infant organ donor population. J Pediatr. 2011 Jan; 158(1):31-6. View Abstract
  31. An interdisciplinary, family-focused approach to relational learning in neonatal intensive care. J Perinatol. 2011 Mar; 31(3):212-9. View Abstract
  32. Early versus late MRI in asphyxiated newborns treated with hypothermia. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2011 Jan; 96(1):F36-44. View Abstract
  33. Correlation of 2-methoxyestradiol levels in cord blood and complications of prematurity. Pediatr Res. 2010 May; 67(5):545-50. View Abstract
  34. Premature infant swallowing: patterns of tongue-soft palate coordination based upon videofluoroscopy. Infant Behav Dev. 2010 Apr; 33(2):209-18. View Abstract
  35. Maternal preeclampsia predicts the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. J Pediatr. 2010 Apr; 156(4):532-6. View Abstract
  36. MAp44, a human protein associated with pattern recognition molecules of the complement system and regulating the lectin pathway of complement activation. J Immunol. 2009 Dec 01; 183(11):7371-8. View Abstract
  37. Polymorphisms in mannan-binding lectin (MBL)-associated serine protease 2 affect stability, binding to MBL, and enzymatic activity. J Immunol. 2009 Mar 01; 182(5):2939-47. View Abstract
  38. Neonatal arterial thrombosis at birth: case report and literature review. Am J Perinatol. 2008 Jun; 25(6):347-52. View Abstract
  39. Inhaled epinephrine for the treatment of transient tachypnea of the newborn. J Perinatol. 2008 Mar; 28(3):205-10. View Abstract
  40. No certain predictors for mutation status in a Danish cohort with familial hypercholesterolemia: a descriptive study. Clin Biochem. 2007 Dec; 40(18):1347-52. View Abstract
  41. Potential substitution of cord blood for infant blood in the neonatal sepsis evaluation. Biol Neonate. 2005; 88(1):12-8. View Abstract
  42. Antenatal neurosurgical counseling: approach to the unborn patient. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2004 Apr; 51(2):491-505. View Abstract
  43. Once-daily gentamicin dosing for the preterm and term newborn: proposal for a simple regimen that achieves target levels. J Perinatol. 2003 Dec; 23(8):635-9. View Abstract
  44. Very low birthweight Infant's placenta and its relation to pregnancy and fetal characteristics. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2000 Sep-Oct; 3(5):419-30. View Abstract
  45. Very low birthweight placenta: clustering of morphologic characteristics. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2000 Sep-Oct; 3(5):431-8. View Abstract
  46. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1: defining characteristics in the cerebrospinal fluid of newborns. J Pediatr. 2000 Jul; 137(1):132-4. View Abstract
  47. Sonographically detected subarachnoid hemorrhage: an independent predictor of neonatal posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus? Clin Imaging. 2000 May-Jun; 24(3):121-9. View Abstract
  48. Thymic transplantation across an MHC class I barrier in swine. J Immunol. 1999 Oct 01; 163(7):3785-92. View Abstract
  49. Labor and delivery characteristics and risks of cranial ultrasonographic abnormalities among very-low-birth-weight infants. The Developmental Epidemiology Network Investigators. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1999 Oct; 181(4):997-1006. View Abstract
  50. Medical management of neonatal posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Neurosurg Clin N Am. 1998 Jan; 9(1):95-104. View Abstract
  51. CNS fibrinolysis: a review of the literature with a pediatric emphasis. Pediatr Neurol. 1998 Jan; 18(1):15-21. View Abstract
  52. Intraventricular urokinase for the treatment of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Pediatr Neurol. 1997 Oct; 17(3):213-7. View Abstract
  53. Predictors of ventriculoperitoneal shunt among babies with intraventricular hemorrhage. J Child Neurol. 1997 Sep; 12(6):381-6. View Abstract
  54. Cerebrospinal fluid plasminogen activator inhibitor-1: a prognostic factor in posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Acta Paediatr. 1997 Sep; 86(9):995-8. View Abstract
  55. Central apnea in a child with congenital autonomic dysfunction and universal pain loss. J Child Neurol. 1996 Mar; 11(2):162-4. View Abstract

Contact Anne Hansen

Phone: 617-355-6027
Fax: 617-730-0486
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