Pasinee Kanaprach (Neonatal Scholar Program)

Pasinee was previously fellow in the Neonatal hemodynamics clinical research Fellowship Program 

Started: July 1st, 2023 - ongoing. 

Project: Long-term cardiac phenotype at follow-up by echocardiography in infants born extremely premature

Project 2: Cerebral saturation by near infrared spectroscopy in newborns with congenital heart defect and its association to Doppler parameters of the anterior cerebral artery. Accepted for Poster presentation at Pediatric Academic Societies 2023.

Phoenix Plessas-Azurduy (MSc Experimental Medicine - McGill University)

Phoenix will be working on a population of newborn exposed to milrinone in the NICU and will look at echocardiographic signs of response to the medication and profile of these infants. Award: McCall MacBain Scholarship (10,000.00$). Phoenix will also be working on the SPEC Study and SAVING study. 

Status: Data extraction

Zoey Nicely (Medical Student)

Zoey will be working on the NORDIC-CDH project. She has joined the lab in February 2025.

Frome Zoey Nicely: "I am excited to join Dr. Altit’s team and contribute to this research project. My experience in primary care pediatrics sparked a strong interest in this population, and I am eager to explore the field of neonatology while developing both research and clinical skills. I look forward to contributing to this meaningful work, as it has the potential to improve health outcomes for children in their first moments of life. Outside of medicine, I love trying new foods and discovering different cuisines. I also enjoy staying active and going on hikes. I’m looking forward to working with the team and gaining new skills along the way!"

Daniel Moses (Medical Student)

Daniel will be involved in the NORDIC-PREM Study. Joined our team in February 2025.

Bio: "I am a first-year medical student at McGill with a keen interest in neonatal medicine. As a member of Dr. Altit’s research team, I am excited to explore innovative approaches to improving neonatal care and outcomes. My prior experience earning a master’s degree in Parasitology at McGill sparked my enthusiasm for research and highlighted its essential role in advancing healthcare. Through this opportunity, I aim to deepen my clinical research skills while contributing to meaningful improvements in neonatology. Outside of my studies, I enjoy playing guitar and writing music, which keeps me balanced and creative."

Nikola Wilk (Resident in Internal Medicine)

In conjunction with Dr Evelyne Vinet as a co-supervisor, Dr Wik will be looking at the strain of fetuses with exposure to maternal lupus and other rheumatological conditions. 

Preliminary results accepted for Canadian Rheumatology Association conference 2022. Abstract presented at PAS 2022. 

Manuscript in submission.

Joshua Hazan Mea (Medical Student)

Joshua will be involved in the NORDIC-SPEC Study. He will also be involved in investigating strategies to improve neonatal comfort during TnECHO and point of care ultrasound. Joined our team in December 2023.

Noushin Roofigari (Resident in Pediatrics)

Noushin will be involved in the post-natal cardiac transition by echocardiography in infants with Congenital Heart Defects. She is interested in pediatric cardiac sciences and is currently a resident in general pediatrics at McGill University. Joined our team in December 2023. 

Noushin has worked on the upcoming NIRS Atlas to be published in 2025 - for which we were invited contributors for the CHD section. 

Silvia Nogara (Post-doctoral student - Neonatology)

Silvia is from the University of Verona, Italy. She is a doing a 6 months research elective at the NeoCardioLab. She will be involved in the data extraction of the Nordic-PREM study - analyzing 3D echocardiography and speckle-tracking. Silvia started her work in January 2024.

Silvia is also working on the ECHOES study.

Angela Magri (Medical Student)

Angela will work with Dr Roofigari on the post-natal cardiac transition by echocardiography in infants with Congenital Heart Defects. Joined our team in March 2024. 

Abdullah Alghamdi (Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellow)

Abdullah will be working on the NORDIC-CDH study. He will be finalizing the data collection for the echocardiography scans that were performed in a multi-centric fashion.

Shahad Daali (Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellow)

Shahad is involved in the data extraction of the Nordic-PREM study - analyzing 3D RV echocardiography and speckle-tracking. Shahad started her work in July 2024.

Paulami Sen (Medical Student)

Paulami will be working on a database of delayed cord clamping and its effect on early cardiac function. She joined our team in January 2024. 

Lauren Perlman (Medical Student)

Lauren will be working on a database of cath-echo relationship in the evaluation of the ductus arteriosus.

Mark Fitzpatrick (Medical Student)

Mark joined the NeoCardioLab in March 2024. He is investigating the association between delayed cord clamping and cerebrovascular integrity in extreme preterm newborns.

Tatiana Amaya Quintero (undergraduate student)

Kinesiology student (BSc) currently engaged in converting 3D echocardiography volumes of newborns from various studies into Cartesian maps. This process facilitates volumetric analysis using 3D-Slicer. 

Status: Data extraction in progress.

Université de Montréal

Camilo José Lopez Ibarra (Post-graduate fellow in fetal cardiology)

Fetal strain in borderline left ventricle, as a predictor of post-natal requirement for intervention. 

Co-supervision with Dr Marie-Josée Raboisson (Chief of Pediatric Cardiology at CHU Sainte-Justine)

Status: Manuscript preparation

Alexie Fonta Holder (Medical Student)

Alexie is a medical student supervised in collaboration with Dr. Anie Lapointe from Université de Montréal on a project as part of the FREEDOM study. The focus is on extracting strain measurements from the fetal hearts of fetuses diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. 

Current Status: Data extraction in progress.

Eliana Saba (undergraduate student)

Student in Biochemistry at Concordia University. Eliana is doing a volunteer research experience at the NeoCardioLab, helping in various projects: recruitment, data collection, data consolidation, research procedures.

Presented the cardiovascular results on a long-term HIE cohort at the Congres Mère enfant 2023. 

Biran V, Saba E, Lapointe A, Macias CM, Mawad W, Martinez DV, Cavallé-Garrido T, Wintermark P, Altit G. Cardiac function at follow-up in infants treated with therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Pediatr Res. 2024 Oct 31. doi: 10.1038/s41390-024-03694-3. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39482497.

Maéva Royer (Collégial international Saint-Anne)

Various research tasks over 2023 and 2024. Started as summer student in the lab. 

Carolina Michel (Neonatal Hemodynamics Research Fellow)

Fellow in the Neonatal hemodynamics clinical research Fellowship Program 

Started on September 6, 2022 - Finished training in September 2023.

Project: Left ventricular dimensions at near-term corrected age and growth parameters in infants born extremely preterm. Manuscript published here. 

Project: Cerebral and renal saturations by near infrared spectroscopy in newborns with Congenital Heart Defect during the transitional period. In data analysis. Presented at World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology 2023. Accepted for Poster presentation at Pediatric Academic Societies 2023. Manuscript in production. 

Sam Amar (Medical Student)

Project: Fetal Coarctation - Strain by Speckle Tracking Evaluation. Manuscript published: 

Amar S, Moore SS, Wutthigate P, Ohayon A, Villegas Martinez D, Simoneau J, Renaud C, Altit G. Gestational age-specific markers associated with postnatal intervention in fetal suspicion of coarctation of the aorta. Am J Perinatol. 2024 Apr 3. doi: 10.1055/a-2298-4670. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38569505.

Project 2: Fetal Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia - Strain by Speckle Tracking. In data extraction.

Mach-Gaensslen Bursary; Foundation of Canada, $3,200.00.

Nicholas McCutcheon Research Bursary ($2,000) in Medicine from the Fall 2022 Research Bursary Program competition

Alexandra Dimmer (MSc Student - Experimental Surgery)

General surgery resident doing a MSc in Experimental Surgery under the supervision of Dr Pramod Puligandla (Director of CDH Clinic). Prospective study on the quality of life in pediatric/adolescent population with CDH. Study using data collected in the context of the NORDIC-CDH program.

Abstract presented at numerous conference (APSA 2024, TnECHO-Qc Research Day 2023, Provincial Pediatric Research Day 2023). 

Manuscript published: Dimmer A, Meehan M, Beauseigle S, Koclas L, Paquette K, Michel Macias C, Moore SS, Sant'Anna A, Shapiro A, Simoneau J, Villegas Martinez D, Altit G*, Puligandla P* (*co-last authors). Disease severity impacts perceived quality of life in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a prospective observational study. Arch Dis Child. 2024 Apr 8:archdischild-2024-326906. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2024-326906. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38589198.

Soledad Belén Cervera (Post-graduate in neonatology)

Neurodevelopmental outcomes based on the approach to PDA management. 

Cervera SB, Saeed S, Luu TM, Gorgos A, Beltempo M, Claveau M, Basso O, Lapointe A, Tremblay S, Altit G. Evaluation of the association between patent ductus arteriosus approach and neurodevelopment in extremely preterm infants. J Perinatol. 2024 Jan 26. doi: 10.1038/s41372-024-01877-8. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38278962.

Wael Abdelmageed (MSc Student - Experimental Medicine)

Co-supervision with Dr Natalie Dayan. Studying the impact of gestational hypertension on neonatal neurodevelopmental outcomes in those born at extreme of prematurity

"Abdelmageed WA, Lapointe A, Brown R, Gorgos A, Luu TM, Beltempo M, Altit G, Dayan N. Association between maternal hypertension and infant neurodevelopment in extremely preterm infants. J Perinatol. 2024 Jan 29. doi: 10.1038/s41372-024-01886-7. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38287138."

Thesis completed and approved (graduated). 

Shiran Moore (Neonatal Hemodynamics Research Fellow)

July 1st, 2021-July 1st, 2022. 

Publications:

Moore SS, De Carvalho Nunes G, Dancea A, Wutthigate P, Simoneau J, Beltempo M, Sant'Anna G, Altit G. Early cardiac function and death, severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia and pulmonary hypertension in extremely preterm infants. Pediatr Res. 2023 Sep 19. doi: 10.1038/s41390-023-02817-6. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37726544.

Moore, Shiran Sara, Gabriela De Carvalho Nunes, Daniela Villegas Martinez, Adrian Dancea, Punnanee Wutthigate, Jessica Simoneau, Marc Beltempo, Guilherme Sant’Anna, and Gabriel Altit. "Association of gestational age at birth with left cardiac dimensions at near term corrected age among extremely preterm infants." Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography.

Punnanee Wutthigate (Neonatal Hemodynamics Fellow, McGill University)

Wutthigate P, Simoneau J, Renaud C, Altit G. Early echocardiography predicts intervention need in antenatal suspicion of coarctation of the aorta. CJC Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease. 2022 May 14.

Marina Mir Parramon (Resident in Pediatric Intensive Care)

Study on the Doppler profile of congenital heart defect infants in the first week of life

Mir M, Moore SS, Wutthigate P, Simoneau J, Villegas M D, Shemie SD, Brossard-Racine M, Dancea A, Bertolizio G, Altit G. Newborns with a congenital heart defect and diastolic steal have altered cerebral arterial Doppler profile. J Pediatr. 2023 Mar 1:S0022-3476(23)00129-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.02.015. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36868306.

Joanne Delanay (Resident in Pediatric Hematology Oncology)

Co-supervision with Dr Catherine Goudie. Studying the impact of gestational hypertension on neonatal hematological factors in those born extremely prematurely.

Delaney J, Nunes GC, Simoneau J, Beltempo M, Malhamé I, Goudie C, Altit G. Thrombocytopenia and neonatal outcomes among extremely premature infants exposed to maternal hypertension. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2023 Feb;70(2):e30131. doi: 10.1002/pbc.30131. Epub 2022 Dec 7. PMID: 36478101.

Alexis Dal Col, BSc; Stanford University

Dal Col AK, Bhombal S, Tacy TA, Hintz SR, Feinstein J, Altit G. Comprehensive Echocardiographic Assessment of Ventricular Function and Pulmonary Pressure in the Neonatal Omphalocele Population. Am J Perinatol. 2021 Aug;38(S 01):e109-e115. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1708048. Epub 2020 Mar 20. PMID: 32198744.

Ganesh Sivakumar, BSc.; Stanford University

Altit G, Bonifacio SL, Guimaraes CV, Bhombal S, Sivakumar G, Yan B, Chock V, Meurs KV. Cardiac Dysfunction in Neonatal HIE Is Associated with Increased Mortality and Brain Injury by MRI. Am J Perinatol. 2021 Sep 7. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1735618. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34492719.

Patrick Kavabuchi, MD (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, McGill University)

Lasry A, Kavabushi P, Canakis AM, Luu TM, Nuyt AM, Perreault T, Simoneau J, Landry J, Altit G. Cardiopulmonary Function Abnormalities in Cohort of Adults following Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia as Preterm Infants. Am J Perinatol. 2021 Jan 17. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1722604. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33454944.

Gabriela Simoes Lopes-Letendre (Elective - College Student)

Study: HIE vs controls - Semester exposure to research.

Ouma Thibert (Elective - College Student)

Study: HIE vs controls - Semester exposure to research.

Matthew Mazzarello (high school student)

Various research tasks over the summer 2023. Summer student. 

Presented: Fractional tissue oxygen extraction in neonates with congenital heart disease at the Congres Mère enfant 2023.

Amanda Ohayon (MSc Student - Experimental Medicine - McGill University)

Co-supervision with Dr Evelyne Vinet and Dr Lawrence Rudski. Will be studying the impact of lupus on maternal and neonatal cardiovascular health.

Manuscript production. Graduated MSc Program. MSc thesis available here. Manuscript in submission process. 

2023 RI-MUHC Desjardins Studentship in Child Health Research. The RI-MUHC - Desjardins Studentship in Child Health Research selected her application entitled "Two-Dimensional Fetal Cardiac Deformation Exposed to Maternal Rheumatologic Conditions by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography" submitted in the fall of 2022. This award is valued at $10,000.00 for one year.

Justine Morin (Medical Student)

Publication - "Exposure to maternal acetylsalicylic acid and the risk of bleeding events in extreme premature neonates"

Status: Completed

Project 2 on the Left Atrial pressure and Wedge pressure in the context of ductal closure by cath - Data collection. 

Armin-Shahin Safai-Naini (Medical Student)

Armin was involved in data collection for the NORDIC-Prem study. 

Tamires Guimarães (Neonatologist - Federal Fluminense University)

Study: Tamires Guimarães will be working as a volunteer student researcher at the NeoCardioLab and will be working on data extraction for ongoing prospective studies. 

Valérie Biran, MD (Visiting Professor - Neonatologist - Université de Paris)

Biran V, Saba E, Lapointe A, Macias CM, Mawad W, Martinez DV, Cavallé-Garrido T, Wintermark P, Altit G. Cardiac function at follow-up in infants treated with therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Pediatr Res. 2024 Oct 31. doi: 10.1038/s41390-024-03694-3. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39482497.

Michael Zrihan (Occupational Therapy Undergraduate Student - McGill University)

Michael was working on a project related to long-term outcomes of adults born with CDH. He will also compare the results of controls to our CDH population, regarding their quality of life questionnaires.