Necrotizing Enterocolitis; Neonatal Nutrition; Metabolism; Preclinical and Translational Studies; Developmental Programming
MyNCBI Publications
Languages Spoken: English
Fun Fact: "In the not-too distant past, I was a marine biologist."
Academic Section(s):
Neonatal-Perinatal
Education:
PhD: Baylor University, Department of Biology, Waco, TX
Postdoctoral Fellowship: University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL
Clinical/Research Interests:
The Burge laboratory is focused on nutritional and metabolic impacts on neonatal gastrointestinal development and intestinal inflammation/necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). NEC, an inflammatory gastrointestinal emergency, predominately affects the distal ileum of preterm infants. The disease is multifactorial, incorporating extensive antibiotic use, formula feeding, dysbiosis, and developmental immaturity of the intestinal epithelium and immune system as etiological risk factors. Using cellular and molecular approaches in preclinical small intestinal enteroids and in vivo models of intestinal inflammation and NEC-like injury, we hope to identify nutritional strategies enhancing intestinal epithelial function during early preterm life. In addition, Dr. Burge is utilizing spatial ‘omics in a translational study investigating the role of congenital heart disease (CHD) in the pathogenesis of NEC in term or near-term infants.
Select Honors & Accomplishments:
2022 - 2023 - Guest Editor, Microorganisms, Special Issue "Neonatal Microbiome, Intestinal Inflammation and Necrotizing Enterocolitis"
2013 - Great Lakes National Scholarship Award Winner
2012 - Great Lakes National Scholarship Award Winner
2011 - Baylor University Folmar Grant Award
2010 - Baylor University Folmar Grant Award
2009 - Baylor University Graduate Student Award Presentation
2006 - Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society
2002-2006 - Illinois Wesleyan University Merit Scholarship
2004 - NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Select Publications:
- Burge, K.Y., Wilson, A.P., Chaaban, H. (2022) In Vitro Apical-Out Enteroid Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis. J. Vis. Exp. 2022 Jun 8(184). PMCID: PMC Journal – In Process.
- Burge, K.Y., Eckert, J.V., Wilson, A.P., Trammell, M., Lueschow, S.R., McElroy, S.J., Dyer, D.W., Chaaban, H. (2022). Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa Protects Against a Hyperosmotic, Formula Feeding Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis. Nutrients 14(9):1779. PMCID: PMC9105773.
- Burge, K.Y.*, Gunasekaran, A.*, Makoni, M.M., Mir, A., Burkhart, H.M., Chaaban, H. (2022). Clinical Characteristics and Potential Pathogenesis of Cardiac Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease: A Narrative Review. J. Clin. Med. 11(14):3987. PMCID: PMC9320426.