Research Laboratory for Physiology and Diseases of Newborns

Natalya Petrova, MD, PhD
Head of Laboratory, Associate Professor

Major objectives

• Studying the underlying mechanisms of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and the development of these mechanisms in the postnatal period in the form of an increased risk of cardiovascular and endocrine diseases.
• Studying the role of insulin-like growth factors GH, IGF-1, IGF-2, IGFBP-3 and insulin in the formation of metabolic and endocrine disorders in children with IUGR.

• Studying the cellular mechanisms of systemic diseases in children with IUGR syndrome.

Major research areas

• Basic research aimed at studying the epigenetic and microbiome mechanisms of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis in order to identify predictors, develop new preventive and treatment strategies.
• Participation in the “Development of an experimental model for the treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants using mesenchymal stem cells” jointly with the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics

International collaboration 

The Laboratory participates in multicenter international studies, including:

• Open-label multi-part first-in-human study of oral LMI070 in infants with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type I.
• Phase 2/3 randomized, double-blind, palivizumab-controlled study to evaluate the safety of MEDI8897, a monoclonal antibody with an extended half-life against respiratory syncytial virus, in high-risk children (MEDLEY).

Participation in State Assignments

• “Study of the epigenetic and microbiome mechanisms of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis in order to identify predictors, develop new preventive and treatment strategies” (2018–2020).
• “Search for predictors and therapeutic targets for the development of gestational complications and diseases of the fetus, newborns and infants” (2013–2017).
• “Study of the phenomenon of fetal-maternal microchimerism by genes of the HLA complex in children with intrauterine growth restriction and immunological conflict” (2013–2017).
• “Development of an experimental model for the treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants using mesenchymal stem cells ” (since 2019, jointly with the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics).

Independent research:

• Respiratory control disorders in preterm neonates.

• A multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of conditions accompanied by central hypoventilation.

Grants

A comparative study of the rate of development of empirical concepts and the ability to synthesize in 3-4 year old healthy and high-risk birth children (to be completed in December 2022).
Grant supervisor: A.B. Palchik, Leading Researcher, Research Laboratory for Physiology and Diseases of Newborns, Institute of Perinatology and Pediatrics.

Clinical activities

The research and clinical unit includes a neonatal physiology department with an intensive care unit, pediatric intensive care unit with 12 bed-wards, department for diseases in newborns and premature infants with 35 beds.

The specialists of the Laboratory carry out research, participate in case conferences and act as consulting doctors at these departments as well as at the department for pediatric surgery of birth defects and the pediatric and medical rehabilitation department of the Children’s Rehabilitation Clinic.