Mausma Bawa, MD, shown with her mentor, Praveen K. Chandrasekharan, MD, has been selected to present her research in Japan later this month.
Mausma Bawa, MD, an intern in the neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship, has been selected as one of three early-stage investigators — in collaboration with the Society of Pediatric Research (SPR) Junior Members Section — to present at the Japan’s 125th Annual Meeting Pediatric Society April 15-17 in Fukushima, Japan.
Skills acquired in the lab, working with newborns
Bawa conducts research in the lab of her mentor, Praveen K. Chandrasekharan, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics and a physician at UBMD Pediatrics.
“As neonatologists in the delivery room, our ultimate goal is to optimize care for the most vulnerable little people. Despite major advances in neonatology, there are gaps in understanding the transition from fetal to neonatal life,” said Bawa. “Under the excellent mentorship of Dr. Chandrasekharan, my research is aimed at improving the understanding of physiological changes that occur at birth.”
She takes care of critically ill newborns at Oishei Children’s Hospital.
“Led by a wonderful, experienced neonatology faculty, I have acquired a strong sense of clinical judgment, confidence, and leadership skills necessary to be a competent neonatologist,” says Bawa. “In addition, I also had the opportunity to participate in teaching residents and medical students rotating in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU).”
Research Highlighted Correct Carbon Dioxide Levels
The research project is titled “Effect of carbon dioxide levels after comprehensive neonatal resuscitation on cerebral and myocardial hemodynamics and oxygenation.” Bawa is lead author and Chandrasekharan is senior author.
“Our study, using a model of comprehensive neonatal resuscitation, has shown that fluctuations in carbon dioxide levels during this period affect blood flow to the brain and heart,” Bawa says. “Because babies born depressed are most often unable to breathe on their own and require assistance with mechanical ventilation, our research demonstrates the importance of maintaining adequate carbon dioxide levels during this critical period.”
“While much research is underway for optimal oxygen range in newborns, the importance of regulating carbon dioxide levels needs to be explored more,” Bawa added.
Research on neonatal resuscitation
Chandrasekharan is currently leading the lab that was influential in developing a (calactant) surfactant treatment. These therapies were first proven to be safe and effective using in vivo models. More recently, dosage recommendations for drugs used during neonatal resuscitation are the result of work done in the lab.
“I am extremely excited to present at such a prestigious international conference, commending the hard work of our team led by Dr. Chandrasekharan,” said Bawa. “It makes me humble and privileged to share the neonatology research work done in our lab in Buffalo.”
“Congratulations to Dr. Bawa and Dr. Chandrasekharan,” said Allison Brashear, MD, UB’s vice president of health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “Their collaboration in the lab and in the NICU emphasizes the hands-on training that the physicians receive in our fellowship programs, which benefits our entire community.”
Work deserves extra awards
Bawa completed a pediatric residency and fellowship in neonatology in India prior to her current fellowship, which she expects to complete in June before entering Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School for accelerated two-year pediatric residency training.
She received the ESPR Trainee Diversity in Research award at the Eastern Society for Pediatric Research 2022, which took place virtually in March.
Bawa is the recipient of the prestigious Fellows Clinical Research Award for 2021 and 2022 — sponsored by the SPR Junior Members Section — to be presented this month at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in Denver. Two of her research summaries will be presented on oral platforms – one of which is in the esteemed Newborn/Infant CPR session.
“Mausma is an example of a hard-working, sincere guy and a great person,” Chandrasekharan says. “She is a role model for our neonatology fellows, and she definitely deserves these awards.”
Other co-authors of the Department of Pediatrics research project are:
Sylvia F. Gugino, PhD, senior research support specialist Justin M. Helman, staff assistant Andreina Mari Torrealba, MD, neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship intern Munmun Rawat, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics
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