KATHERINE M. OTTOLINI, M.D. Attending, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Katherine M. Ottolini, M.D., is an attending neonatologist at Children’s National Hospital and has collaborated with the Developing Brain Institute (DBI) on research since 2018. Dr. Ottolini first became interested in neonatal nutrition while working as a pediatric resident at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Under the mentorship of Dr. Catherine Limperopoulos as a Neonatal-Perinatal Fellow at Children’s National, she utilized advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to investigate the effects on early nutrition on the preterm developing brain, including the impact of macronutrients and breast milk intake. Dr. Ottolini continued to work with DBI remotely for four years while serving in the U.S. Air Force as a neonatologist
based in Okinawa, Japan. Since returning to DBI at Children’s National in September 2022, she remains focused on using advanced MRI techniques to evaluate the effects of early nutritional interventions on preterm brain development, with the aim of optimizing growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes for this vulnerable population.
Address: 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010
Email: fetalbrain@childrensnational.org
Department: MRI Lab
Research, Education and Innovation Week 2024 award
Kocher K, Ngwa J, Galla JT, Basu SK, Ottolini K, Andescavage N, du Plessis A, Limperopoulos C. Early epigenetic biomarkers of accelerated aging in extremely versus very preterm infants. Children’s National Hospital 14th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. April 2024. (Certificate of Excellence awarded to lead author, Kristen Kocher. Basic Science: Fellow Award.)
Recent publications & presentations
2026 | April
Basu S, Govindan RB, Kapse K, du Plessis AJ, Ottolini K, Murnick J, Ngwa J, Limperopoulos C. “Active Sleep During Extrauterine Third Trimester Is Associated With Neurophysiologic Maturation in Preterm Infants.” Poster presentation. 97th Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting. Boston, MA. April 2026.
Basu S, Govindan RB, Kapse K, du Plessis AJ, Ottolini K, Murnick J, Ngwa J, Limperopoulos C. “Active Sleep During Extrauterine Third Trimester Is Positively Associated With Brain White Matter Volume in Preterm Infants.” Poster presentation. 97th Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting. Boston, MA. April 2026.
Cook KM, De Asis-Cruz J, Murnick J, Ottolini K, Basu S, Andescavage N, du Plessis AJ, Limperopoulos C. “Maturation of Functional Brain Connectivity in Preterm Infants Differs From Fetal Development and Based on Age at Birth.” Oral abstract. 97th Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting. Boston, MA. April 2026.
Hoover G, Ottolini KM, Cook KM, Basu S, Aokalani MC, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. “Social Drivers of Parental Bedside Presence and Mother's Own Milk Provision for Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.” Poster presentation. 97th Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting. Boston, MA. April 2026.
Ottolini K, Chirumamilla VC, Basu S, Andescavage N, Ngwa J, du Plessis AJ, Limperopoulos C, Govindan R. “Nutritional Factors Associated With Autonomic Nervous System Maturation in Preterm Infants.” Oral Abstract. 97th Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting. Boston, MA. April 2026.
Ottolini K, Ngwa J, Basu S, Kapse K, Cook KM, Wu Y, Murnick J, du Plessis AJ, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. “Impaired Ex Utero Brain Growth of Preterm Infants Compared to In Utero Healthy Fetuses.” Oral Abstract. 97th Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting. Boston, MA. April 2026.
Stage A, Hui SCN, Kapse K, Andescavage N, Ottolini K, Basu S, Ngwa J, Murnick J, Limperopoulos C. "Relationship of Clinical Co-Morbidities With the Altered Maturational Trajectory of Cerebral Metabolites in Preterm Infant.” Poster presentation. 97th Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting. Boston, MA. April 2026.
Hoover G, Ottolini KM, Cook KM, Aokalani MC, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. “Analysis of Mother's Own Milk Provision and Parental Presence in NICU Settings Using the Social Vulnerability Index.” Poster. Research, Education & Innovation Week 2026. Washington, D.C. April 2026.
Ottolini KM, Ngwa JS, Basu SK, Kapse K, Cook KM, Wu Y, Murnick J, du Plessis AJ, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. “Impaired ex Utero Brain Growth of Preterm Infants Compared to in Utero Healthy Fetuses.” Poster. Research, Education & Innovation Week 2026. Washington, D.C. April 2026.
Beilfuss AM, Andescavage N, Ottolini KM, Limperopoulos C, Latif H, Pen R. “Maternal Mental Health and Breastmilk Composition in Mothers of Preterm Infants.” Poster. Research, Education & Innovation Week 2026. Washington, D.C. April 2026.
Cook KM, De Asis-Cruz J, Murnick J, Ottolini KM, Basu SK, Andescavage N, du Plessis AJ, Limperopoulos C. “Prematurely Born Infants Exhibit Atypical Functional Brain Development Compared to Fetal Peers and Degree of Prematurity.” Poster. Research, Education & Innovation Week 2026. Washington, D.C. April 2026.
Stage AJ, Hui SCN, Ottolini KM, Ngwa J, Murnick J, Basu SK, Kapse K, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. “Relationship Between Clinical Comorbidities and Cerebral Metabolic Maturation in Preterm Infants.” Poster. Research, Education & Innovation Week 2026. Washington, D.C. April 2026.
Ottolini KM, Chirumamilla VC, Basu SK, Andescavage N, Ngwa JS, du Plessis AJ, Limperopoulos C, Govindan RB. “Nutritional Factors Associated With Autonomic Nervous System Maturation in Preterm Infants.” Poster. Research, Education & Innovation Week 2026. Washington, D.C. April 2026.
2026 | February
Stage AJ, Hui SCN, Ottolini K, Ngwa J, Murnick J, Basu S, Kapse K, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. "Altered Maturational Trajectory of Cerebral Metabolites in Preterm Infants." Poster. 17th International Newborn Brain Conference (INBBC 2026). Naples, Italy. February 2026.
Ngwa JS, Govindan RB, Andescavage N, Basu S, Ottolini K, Kapse K, Murnick J, Limperopoulos C, du Plessis, AJ. “Heart Rate Variability Using Time and Frequency Domain Metrics Is Associated With Brain Volumes in Preterm Infants.” Poster. 17th International Newborn Brain Conference (INBBC 2026). Naples, Italy. February 2026.
2025 | November
Ottolini KM, Basu SK, Ngwa J, Kapse K, Murnick J, Cook KM, Wu Y, Watson TT, du Plessis AJ, Limperopoulos C, Andescavage N. “Donor Human Milk and Structural Brain Development in Very Preterm Infants.” Pediatric Research. 2025 Nov 1. doi: 10.1038/s41390-025-04539-3. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41174153
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41174153
2025 | April
Ottolini KM, et al. "Influence of Maternal NICU Visitation on Human Milk Feeding in Preterm Infants." Poster presentation. Pediatric Academic Societies 2025. Honolulu, Hawaii. April 2025.
Kocher K, Ottolini K, Ngwa J, Latif H, du Plessis AJ, Limperopoulos C, Andescavage N. “Preterm Infants Experiencing Extrauterine Growth Failure Exhibit Epigenetic Age Deacceleration” Poster presentation. Children’s National Hospital 15th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. March-April 2025.
Ottolini KM, Andescavage N, Basu SK, Zeman A, du Plessis AJ, Limperopoulos C. "Maternal NICU Presence and Milk Provision at Discharge in Preterm Infants" Poster presentation. Children’s National Hospital 15th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. March-April 2025.
Stage A, Ottolini K, Hui SCN, Ngwa J, Zeman A, Murnick J, Basu S, Kapse K, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. "Altered Maturational Trajectory of Cerebral Metabolites in Preterm Infants" Poster presentation. Children’s National Hospital 15th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. March-April 2025.
2024 | December
Ottolini KM, Ngwa J, Basu SK, Kapse K, Liggett M, Murnick J, Limperopoulos C, Andescavage N. “Brain Development Using a Multicomponent Intravenous Lipid Emulsion in Preterm Infants.” BMC Pediatrics. 2024 Dec 30;24(1):847. doi: 10.1186/s12887-024-05330-9. PMID: 39736580
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39736580
2024 | April
Watson TT, Ottolini K, Basu S, Kapse K, Murnick J, Andescavage N, du Plessis A, Saulino P, Limperopoulos C. Timing and growth failure in very premature infants and implications for brain development. Children’s National Hospital 14th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. April 2024.
Ottolini KM, Andescavage N, Basu SK, Kapse K, Watson T, Murnick J, du Plessis A, Limperopoulos C. Type of intravenous lipid emulsion affects very preterm brain development. Children’s National Hospital 14th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. April 2024.
Spurney G, Gala J, Basu S, Ottolini K, Andescavage N, du Plessis A, Limperopoulos C. High prevalence of low dietary intake of choline in mothers of preterm infants. Children’s National Hospital 14th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. April 2024.
Rich C, Kapse K, Ngwa J, Galla JT, Basu S, Ottolini K, Andescavage N, du Plessis A, Limperopoulos C. Altered regional cerebral blood flow in preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus. Children’s National Hospital 14th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. April 2024.