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In this episode of the Incubator "At the Bench," we speak with Dr. Eric Benner, a neonatologist and physician-scientist at Duke University. Dr. Benner shares his path from an MD-PhD student with a background in Parkinson’s research to a passionate neonatologist driven by personal experiences in the NICU after his twin sons were born prematurely. He describes how these experiences inspired him to dedicate his career to studying neurologic outcomes in preterm infants, focusing on neural stem cells and ways to improve outcomes for children like his son who has faced neurologic challenges. Dr. Benner discusses his pioneering research on oxysterols in breast milk, which activate neural pathways, particularly the sonic hedgehog pathway, to promote brain development in preterm infants. His journey includes navigating the patent process, founding a biotech company, and persisting despite initial skepticism from the pharmaceutical industry. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship and collaboration, sharing practical advice for budding physician-scientists. Dr. Benner also highlights the need for palliative care in neonatology, inspired by his wife's work in palliative medicine, as an integral component of compassionate care in the NICU.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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Ben and Daphna close out their CHNC Symposium coverage with Dr. Kris Reber and Dr. Anthony Piazza. They reflect on the symposium's success, including its unique working-meeting style, collaborative focus groups, and increased involvement from trainees and multidisciplinary teams. Kris and Anthony share their excitement for the event’s growth and plans to include even more specialties in future years. Tune in for insights into how CHNC is fostering year-round connections, continuous learning, and impactful collaborations in neonatal care.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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Ben and Daphna speak with Dr. Rebecca Martinez-Hannon and Dr. Vedanta Dariya from the CHNC Neonatal Transport Focus Group, exploring the variability in transport team structures and practices. They discuss team compositions, unique challenges in neonatal transport, and critical procedures performed en route. The conversation also highlights future goals, including consensus statements and collaborations with other focus groups. Tune in to learn how this focus group is working to improve neonatal transport standards across diverse healthcare settings.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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Ben and Daphna sit down with Dr. Rakesh Rao and Dr. Mary Revenis from the CHNC Endocrinology Focus Group to discuss their recent survey on managing hyperglycemia in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. They explore the wide variation in practices, from defining hyperglycemia to insulin use and glucose reduction strategies. With perspectives from both neonatologists and endocrinologists, they highlight the challenges and next steps, including real-time glucose monitoring and upcoming projects on steroid use. Tune in for insights into this complex aspect of neonatal care.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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Ben and Daphna sit down with Dr. Maria Dizon, Dr. Girija Natarajan, and Dr. Rakesh Rao from the CHNC HIE Focus Group to discuss their research on hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). They share insights from their study on post-arrest HIE in newborns, including the outcomes of hypothermia treatment and key findings about patient characteristics. The team highlights ongoing initiatives, such as examining HIE in preterm infants and tracking neurodevelopmental outcomes. Listen in to learn how their work is shaping the future of neonatal neuroprotection.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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Ben and Daphna are joined by Dr. Karna Murthy from Lurie Children’s Hospital to discuss CHNC’s innovative approach to risk adjustment for neonatal outcomes. Dr. Murthy shares insights into developing new tools for comparing NICU performance across hospitals, allowing centers to benchmark outcomes in rare conditions like diaphragmatic hernia and severe BPD. He also offers a look into the future of the CHNC Symposium, including expanded workshops and collaborative sessions. Tune in to learn how these efforts aim to drive continuous improvement in neonatal care.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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Ben and Daphna sit down with Dr. John Chuo and Dr. Abeer Azzuqa to discuss the CHNC Digital Health Focus Group and its impact on neonatal care. They share insights into using telemedicine across the NICU journey—from prenatal care to post-discharge monitoring—and explore the future of digital health. With advances in remote monitoring and clinical decision tools, Dr. Chuo and Dr. Azzuqa explain how digital health can support care continuity, reduce hospital stays, and improve access to specialized neonatal expertise.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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Ben and Daphna speak with Dr. Michael Padula from CHOP about his research on central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in the NICU. Dr. Padula presents findings from his talk, “Why Not a CLABSI?” where he examines the complex definitions and variations in CLABSI reporting across institutions. By investigating secondary bloodstream infections and potential alternative metrics, Dr. Padula sheds light on the challenges of accurately categorizing and preventing infections in critical care. Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation on improving quality measures in neonatal care.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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