SUDEEPTA K. BASU, M.D. Attending Neonatologist
Sudeepta K. Basu, M.D., is an attending neonatologist and investigates early neuroimaging markers of brain injury in preterm newborns. Dr. Basu employs advanced magnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate the metabolic and functional profile of the developing brain in preterm infants. In particular, he focuses on novel neuroimaging techniques to estimate the concentration of GABA, a vital neurotransmitter, in preterm brains (Project MAGIC study) under the mentorship of Catherine Limperopoulos, Ph.D., at the Developing Brain Institute at Children’s National. Dr. Basu also investigates metabolic and neuroimaging characteristics of near-term infants who suffered from perinatal birth asphyxia (HIE).
Address: 111 Michigan Ave. NW; Washington, D.C., 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 | July
Damera SR, Basu S, Kapse K, Murnick J, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C, De Asis-Cruz J. “Altered Brain State Dynamics Between Preterm and Term-Born Infants.” Imaging Neuroscience (Camb). 2025 Jul 7;3:IMAG.a.65. doi: 10.1162/IMAG.a.65. PMID: 40800740; PMCID: PMC12330851
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40800740
2025 | April
Ngwa JS, Govindan R, Galla J, Kapse K, Basu S, Andescavage N, du Plessis AJ, Limperopoulos C. “Leveraging Autonomic Cardiorespiratory Measures to Predict Total Brain Volumes in Preterm Infants” 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.
Tian R, Harburg L, Adegbulugbe E, Latif H, Basu S, du Plessis AJ, Andescavage N. "Evaluating the Impact of a Radiographic-Based Protocol on Timing of Surgical Intervention and Outcomes of Preterm Infants With Post-Hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus" Poster presentation. Children’s National Hospital 15th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. March-April 2025.
2025 | January
Christoffel K, De Asis Cruz J, Cook KM, Kapse K, Andescavage N, Basu S, Limperopoulos C, du Plessis A. “Third Trimester Development of Central Autonomic Network Connectivity Is Altered in an Extrauterine Environment.” Neonatology. 2025 Jan 2:1-20. doi: 10.1159/000543277. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39746339
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39746339
2024 | December
Manrique M, Pham M, Basu S, Murnick J, Rana MS, Chang T, Chan C, Vieta-Ferrer E, Sano C, Limperopoulos C, Miller M. “Term Infant Brain MRI After ROP Treatment by Anti-VEGF Injection Versus Laser Therapy.” Journal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. 2024 Dec;28(6):104038. doi: 10.1016/j.jaapos.2024.104038. Epub 2024 Nov 14. PMID: 39550050
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39550050
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 | September
Govindan RB, Andescavage NN, Basu S, Murnick J, Ngwa J, Galla JT, Kapse K, Limperopoulos C, du Plessis A. “Circadian Rhythm Development in Preterm Infants. The Role of Postnatal Versus Postmenstrual Age.” Early Human Development. 2024 Sep;196:106084. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2024.106084. Epub 2024 Jul 27. PMID: 39126762; PMCID: PMC11344654
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39126762
2024 | April
Damera SR, De Asis-Cruz J, Cook KM, Kapse K, Spoehr E, Murnick J, Basu S, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. Regional homogeneity as a marker of sensory cortex dysmaturity in preterm infants. iScience. 2024 Apr 4;27(5):109662. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109662. PMID: 38665205; PMCID: PMC11043889
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38665205/
Reze C, Andescavage NN, Basu S, Galla J, Limperopoulos C, Wu Y. Sex differences in pituitary gland volume in preterm infants. Children’s National Hospital 14th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. April 2024.
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.
Cook KM, De Asis-Cruz J, Andescavage N, Saulino P, Basu SK, du Plessis AJ, Limperopoulos C. Greater exposure to opioid pain medications in the NICU is associated with hyperconnectivity of the thalamus and cerebellum in infants born prematurely. Children’s National Hospital 14th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. April 2024.
Ngwa JS, Govindan R, Galla J, Kapse K, Basu S, Andescavage N, du Plessis AJ, Limperopoulos C. The impact of conventional and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation on heart rate metrics in preterm infants. Children’s National Hospital 14th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. April 2024.
Basu S, Hui SCN, Kapse K, Galla J, Andescavage N, Murnick J, du Plessis AJ, Limperopoulos C. Cerebellar GABA and glutamate concentrations at term-age predicts cognitive deficits in preterm infants. 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.
Damera S, De Asis-Cruz J, Cook KM, Kapse K, Spoehr E, Basu SK, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. Regional homogeneity tracks sensory cortex dysmaturity and predicts future risk of autism in 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.
Reze C, Andescavage NN, Basu S, Galla J, Limperopoulos C, Wu Y. Sex differences in pituitary gland volume in preterm infants. Children’s National Hospital 14th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. April 2024.