Description of Research Expertise

I began my neonatal research career as a laboratory-based scientist investigating mechanisms of virulence in Group B Streptococcus, an important neonatal microbial pathogen. My interests evolved to focus on neonatal sepsis risk assessment. In collaboration with Dr. Gabriel Escobar, I performed a series of studies addressing the risk of neonatal early-onset sepsis among term and late preterm infants, and developed risk prediction models based on objective data available at the moment of birth and newborn clinical condition. We transformed these Bayesian multivariate models into a practical “calculator,” providing neonatal clinicians a Sepsis Risk Score to estimate individual infant risk and guide care decisions. Our work catalyzed widespread adoption of these models and fundamentally changed national perinatal practice. My research group currently focuses on sepsis risk assessment among preterm infants; on national infection epidemiology and antibiotic practice; and on determining the longer-term health outcomes of perinatal antibiotics exposures. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, my research group leveraged our existing infrastructure to conduct studies of maternal COVID seroepidemiology and transplacental antibody transfer. My research group are all faculty in the CHOP Clinical Futures program. Finally, I am the local principal investigator for the NIH-funded Neonatal Research Network. Pennsylvania Hospital has the largest perinatal center in Philadelphia and is an active site for clinical research, and specifically for Neonatal Research Network studies.

Selected Publications

Shankaran S, Laptook AR, Guimaraes C, et al. for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network: Human Development Neonatal Research Network. NICHD Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Score in Term Infants With Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial JAMA Pediatr. 179 (4): 2025.

Walter J, Hill DL, Cetin A, DeWitt A, Kellom K, Quarshie W, Griffis H, Shults J, Arnold R, Tjia J, Puopolo K, Curley MAQ, Feudtner C.: A Pediatric Interprofessional Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Intervention: CICU Teams and Loved Ones Communicating (CICU TALC) is Feasible, Acceptable, and Improves Clinician Communication Behaviors in Family Meetings. Pediatr Cardiol 46 (4): 2025.

Coggins SA, Wade KC, Watt KM, Downes KJ, Puopolo KM.: Vancomycin Concentrations in Umbilical Cord Blood After Intrapartum Exposure Obstet Gynecol 145 (4): 435-438,2025.

Coggins SA, Triebwasser JE, Puopolo KM.: Diagnostic evaluation to identify infection-attributable stillbirth J Perinatol : 2025.

Mukhopadhyay S, Puopolo KM: Perinatal and Neonatal Infections: Core Concepts, Emerging Issues, and Future Perspectives Clin Perinatol 52 (1): xix-xxii,2025.

Medoro AK, Puopolo KM: Transplacental Antibodies: Role of Maternal Vaccines and Immunity Clin Perinatol 52 (1): 101-113,2025.

Chawla S, Wyckoff MH, Lakshminrusimha S, et al; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Neonatal Research Network (NRN): Short Duration of Antenatal Corticosteroid Exposure and Outcomes in Extremely Preterm Infants JAMA Netw Open 8 (1): e2461312,2025.

Coggins SA, Puopolo KM.: Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for group B Streptococcus: what exactly is adequate? Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 110 (2): 2025.

Mukhopadhyay S, Kaufman DA, Saha S, Puopolo KM, Flannery DD, Weimer KED, Greenberg RG, Sanchez PJ, Eichenwald EC, Cotten CM, Stoll BJ, Laptook A.: Late-Onset Sepsis Among Extremely Preterm Infants During the COVID-19 Pandemic Pediatrics 155 (2): e2024067675,2025.

May MF, McKinney ML, Cestare D, Hussey A, Zevallos AB, Garber S, Posencheg MA, Puopolo KM, Mukhopadhyay S.: Improving Time to First Feeding for Preterm Infants: A Quality Improvement Approach Pediatr Qual Saf 10 (2): e798,2025.

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Academic Contact Information

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Newborn Care at Pennsylvania Hospital
800 Spruce Street - 2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 215-829-3301
Patient appointments: 800-789-7366