Join the developing brain institute at #pas2026
This year, research-scientists affiliated with the Developing Brain Institute (DBI) at Children’s National had 10 Oral Abstracts and 14 Posters accepted for Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2026. “The Newborn Connectome in Antenatal Opioid Exposure,” a poster led by Josepheen De Asis-Cruz, M.D., Ph.D., scored in the Top 5% of all abstracts submitted. And Srikanth Damera, M.D., Ph.D., was honored with a PAS 2026 Trainee Travel Grant for the high quality of an Oral Abstract that he led, “Fetal Subplate Dysmaturation Predicts Early Motor Outcomes in Congenital Heart Disease” as well as the SPR House Officer Research Award for a poster he led, "Fetal Brain Shape Predicts Gestational Age and Early Dysmaturation in Congenital Heart Disease." DBI staffer Katherine M. Ottolini, M.D., will moderate "Neonatal Fetal Nutrition & Metabolism" on April 25 from 8-9:30 a.m., while Kevin M. Cook Ph.D., will moderate "Neonatal Neurology 4: Clinical-Prenatal" on April 26 from 2:30-4 p.m. Collaborating researcher, Sarah B. Mulkey, M.D., Ph.D., will moderate “Global Neonatal & Children's Health 1” on April 25 from 2-3:30 p.m. And Josepheen De Asis-Cruz, M.D., Ph.D. is a panelist in a Basic-Translational-Clinical Roundtable on April 27 from 10-11:30 a.m. Additional details follow.
Contact us to learn more about PAS 2026:
Developing Brain Institute Presenters and Collaborating Researchers
5:30-8 p.m.
Stephanie L. Merhar, M.D., MS
Merhar S, et al. “Prenatal Opioid Exposure Is Associated With Cognitive Outcomes at 12 Months of Age After Adjustment for Covariates.” Poster.
Location – Exhibit Hall. Poster No.: 69
Yao Wu, Ph.D.
Wu Y, De Asis-Cruz J, Kapse K, Merhar SL, Bann CM, Newman JE, Davis JM, Ambalavanan N, De Mauro SB, Lorch SA, Wilson-Costello D, Poindexter BB, Mack N, Peralta-Carcelen M, Limperopoulos C. “Associations Between Maternal Mental Health and Amygdala and Hippocampus Volumes in Newborns With Antenatal Opioid Exposure.” Poster.
Location – Exhibit Hall. Poster No.: 123
8-9:30 a.m.
Katherine M. Ottolini, M.D.
“Neonatal Fetal Nutrition & Metabolism 1.” Oral Abstract.
Location – Room 209 West
2-3:30 p.m.
3:30-5:45 p.m.
Sarah B. Mulkey, M.D., Ph.D.
“Global Neonatal & Children's Health 1.” Oral Abstract.
Location – Room 212 West
Sudeepta K. Basu, M.D.
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.
Location – Exhibit Hall. Poster No.: 655
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.
Location – Exhibit Hall. Poster No.: 656
Josepheen De Asis-Cruz, M.D., Ph.D.
De Asis-Cruz J, Wu Y, Kim DY, Kapse K, Merhar SL, Bann CM, Newman JE, Mack N, DeMauro SB, Ambalavanan N, Lorch SA, Wilson-Costello D, Poindexter BB, Peralta-Carcelen M, Davis JM, Limperopoulos C. “The Newborn Connectome in Antenatal Opioid Exposure.” Poster that scored in the Top 5% of all abstracts submitted.
Location – Exhibit Hall. Poster No.: 677
Ana Leonard
Leonard A, Chow M, Rasmussen J, Madan N, Salih K, Kapse K, Limperopoulos C, Davis JM, De Asis-Cruz J, Yen E. “Brain-Growth Connection: Impact of Maternal Opioid Use on Neonatal Hypothalamic Changes and Anthropometric Measurements.” Poster.
Location – Exhibit Hall. Poster No.: 678
Jung-Hoon Kim, Ph.D.
Kim JH, De Asis-Cruz J, Kapse K, Wu Y, Merhar SL, Bann CM, Newman JE, Mack N, DeMauro SB, Ambalavanan N, Lorch SA, Wilson-Costello D, Poindexter BB, Peralta-Carcelen M, Davis JM, Limperopoulos C. "Nonlinear Brain Network Disruption in Opioid-Exposed Neonates Revealed by Deep Generative Modeling." Poster.
Location – Exhibit Hall. Poster No.: 676
Nicole Mack, MS
Mack N, Divaris K, Bann CM, Newman JE, DeMauro S, Ambalavanan N, Lorch SA, Wilson-Costello D, Poindexter B, Peralta-Carcelen M, Davis JM, Limperopoulos C, Merhar SL. "Early Childhood Caries Risk Factors Differ Between Children With Prenatal Opioid Exposure and Unexposed Controls." Poster.
Location – Exhibit Hall. Poster No.: 182
Anola J. Stage, M.D., IBCLC
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 Infants.” Poster.
Location – Exhibit Hall. Poster No.: 672
Yao Wu, Ph.D.
Wu Y, Merhar SL, Bann CM, Newman JE, Kapse K, De Asis-Cruz J, Davis JM, Ambalavanan N, De Mauro SB, Lorch SA, Wilson-Costello D, Poindexter BB, Mack N, Peralta-Carcelen M, Limperopoulos C. “Neonatal Brain Volumes Differ Across Neurobehavioral Profiles and Vary by Antenatal Opioid Exposure.” Poster.
Location – Exhibit Hall. Poster No.: 675
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Srikanth Damera, M.D., Ph.D.
Damera S, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. “Fetal Brain Shape Predicts Gestational Age and Early Dysmaturation in Congenital Heart Disease.” Poster honored with the SPR House Officer Research Award.
Location – Exhibit Hall. Poster No.: 408
Caroline Wambach
Wambach C, De Asis-Cruz J, Ngwa JS, Weiner S, Limperopoulos C, Andescavage N. “Social-Emotional Development and Functional Connectivity in Neonates.” Poster.
Location – Exhibit Hall. Poster No.: 601
12:30-12:45 p.m.
Josepheen De Asis-Cruz, M.D., Ph.D.
De Asis-Cruz J, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. “Altered Hypothalamic Structure and Functional Connectivity in Neonates Exposed to Maternal Diabetes.” Oral Abstract.
Location – Room 101 West
2:30-4 p.m.
Kevin M. Cook, Ph.D.
“Neonatal Neurology 4: Clinical – Prenatal.” Oral Abstract.
Location – Room 204 West
2:30-2:45 p.m.
Katherine M. Ottolini, M.D.
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.
Location – Room 204 West
2:45-3 p.m.
Kevin M. Cook, Ph.D.
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.
Location – Room 204 West
3:45-4 p.m.
Sarah B. Mulkey, M.D., Ph.D.
Mulkey S, et al. “Normocephalic Colombian Children With Antenatal Zika Virus Exposure Have Differences in Neurodevelopmental Trajectories and on Brain MRI at 7 Years of Age.” Oral Abstract.
Location – Room 204 West
8-10 a.m.
Elan Donnellan, Ph.D.
Donnellan E, Ngwa JS, Liggett MO, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C, du Plessis AJ, Govindan RB. “Neurobehavioral Stress Linked to the Central Nervous System Is Associated With Heart Rate Variability Differences in Preterm Infants.” Poster.
Location – Exhibit Hall. Poster No.: 632
Grace Hoover, MD Student
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.
Location – Exhibit Hall. Poster No.: 645
10:15-10:30 a.m.
Srikanth Damera, M.D., Ph.D.
Damera S, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. “Fetal Subplate Dysmaturation Predicts Early Motor Outcomes in Congenital Heart Disease.” Oral Abstract honored with a PAS 2026 Trainee Travel Grant.
Location – Room 104C West
10:30-10:45 a.m.
Katherine M. Ottolini, M.D.
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.
Location – Room 211 West
11:04-11:16 a.m.
Josepheen De Asis-Cruz, M.D., Ph.D.
"Imaging the Developing Brain: Uncovering the Effects of Prenatal Opioid Exposure" during the Basic-Translational-Clinical Roundtable: “Babies, Opioids, & Brains (BOB): Novel Approaches to Improving Developmental and Health Outcomes Following Prenatal Opioid Exposure—Time for Action!”
Location – Grand Ballroom West (Level 3)