Emanuela Ferretti

Investigator, CHEO Research Institute

Dr. Emanuela Ferretti graduated in pediatrics and neonatology from the University of Milan (Italy). Her postgraduate medical training included clinical and research fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto and the Montreal Children’s Hospital (Mc Gill University).

She is Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Ottawa and neonatologist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and the Ottawa Hospital (General Campus). Affiliated member of the CHEORI her research interest has pertained to multicenter CIHR funded study on necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) which includes the study of a non-invasive biological marker to help predict NEC in premature infants, the impact of human milk micro-vesicles – exosomes and drugs on the development of the human premature intestine. Longstanding and ongoing participation in several international clinical RCT’s (including MACS, MACS2, MACS5, LIFT, REFSAL study – inhaled Salbutamol for TTN of the newborn).

She has co-led Medical Education Research and implemented an international innovative Neonatal Ethics Teaching Program focused on parent-physician communication skills for postgraduate trainees. Lastly her experiences as team leader of the local Perinatal Palliative Care Committee and expert content advisor for international Neonatal Societies, led to develop a Regional Perinatal Pain guideline and the buildout of a QI project on the use of opioids in post-op neonates at CHEO.

 

Research Projects

  1. Efficacy of mesenchymal stromal cells in preclinical models of necrotizing enterocolitis: a systematic review protocol

    05/10/2021

    This systematic review aims to examine the efficacy of mesenchymal stromal cells in preclinical models of necrotizing enterocolitis and whether there is sufficient evidence to support a clinical trial of efficacy and safety of the treatment with mesenchymal stromal cells in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis.

  2. Lipocalin-2 and calprotectin as stool biomarkers for predicting necrotizing enterocolitis in premature neonates

    31/08/2021

    Although not yet fulfilling the “perfect biomarker” criteria, it represents a first step toward it.

  3. Medications to manage end-of-life symptoms in the immediate postpartum period

    18/08/2021

    There is a need for standardization of the medical management of infants born with life-limiting conditions whose parents choose to pursue palliative care.

  4. Medications to manage infant pain, distress and end-of-life symptoms in the immediate postpartum period

    18/08/2021