Babies born extremely preterm often require life-saving breathing support. However, many develop lung injury from these very therapies, with rates of chronic lung disease of prematurity continuing to increase.
Mercy Health Neonatal Fellow Dr Kristin Ferguson has made it her career goal to reverse this trend.
“I want to see more extremely preterm infants leave the neonatal intensive care unit without long-term lung disease,” said Kristin.
“Currently, clinicians have minimal evidence to guide how quickly air and oxygen should be delivered to the fragile lungs of extremely preterm infants.”
Kristin is about to start her PhD at the University of Melbourne, where she aims to determine the optimal gas flows that safely and effectively support the lungs of our most vulnerable babies. Kristin’s research will involve collaborations with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and the Royal Women’s Hospital (RWH).
Testament to the importance of this research, Kristin has received highly competitive and prestigious funding, including a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Postgraduate Scholarship, a MACH-Track Fellowship as well as a ZOLL Foundation grant.
Kristin’s PhD supervisors are Mercy Hospital for Women’s Director of Neonatal Research Professor Brett Manley, Professor David Tingay (MCRI), Professor Peter Davis (RWH), and Dr Kate Hodgson (RWH).
Congratulations Kristin – we look forward to following your research progress.
Last reviewed February 11, 2025.
