CURRICULUM VITAE

Date: January 21, 2007

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: NAMASIVAYAM AMBALAVANAN

Citizenship: United States of America

RANK/TITLE Assistant Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Cell Biology,

Department: Pediatrics; Division of Neonatology

Business address: 525 New Hillman Building

619 South 19th St., Birmingham, AL 35233 USA

Phone: 205-934-4680

Fax: 205-934-3100

Email: ambal AT uab.edu

HOSPITAL AND OTHER (NON-ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS):

1. Medical Staff, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine

2. Medical Staff, The Children’s Hospital of Alabama

3. Pediatrician / Neonatologist, Jefferson Clinic P.C., Birmingham

PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTSHIPS: None

EDUCATION:

Institution Degree Year

1. Medical School

Jawaharlal Institute of PostGraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER)

Pondicherry, India MBBS 1988

2. JIPMER

Pondicherry, India Internship 1990

3. Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER)

Chandigarh, India MD (Pediatrics) 1993

4. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, USA 1 yr Pediatric Residency 1996

3 yrs Neonatology Fellowship 1997

LICENSURE:

Licensed in the state of Alabama

Licensed to practice medicine in India -permanent license

CERTIFICATION

Certified in Pediatrics by American Board of Pediatrics (Oct 1996; Recertified 2003-2010)

Certified in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine by American Board of Pediatrics (Nov 1997; Recertified 2004-2011)

Awarded MD (Pediatrics) by PGIMER, India (Silver Medalist; First in class): May 1993

POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING: See Education

1. Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research

Chandigarh, India MD (Pediatrics) 1993

2. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, USA 1 yr Pediatric Residency 1996

3 yr Neonatology Fellowship 1997

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS:

1. Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB): Oct 1, 2000 – present

(Approved for promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure by Department, Sept 2006)

2. Associate Director, Division of Neonatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB): 2003 – present

3. Director, Newborn Care Unit, Cooper Green Hospital: Oct 2001-present

4. Assistant Professor, Department of Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB): Aug 1, 2006 – present

5. Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, UAB: May 1, 1998 – Sept 30, 2000 (unpaid academic appointment during period of service in medically underserved county hospital)

6. Instructor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, UAB: Feb 1, 1998 to Apr 30, 1998

7. Fellow/Instructor in the Division of Neonatology, UAB: Oct 8, 1993 to Nov 7, 1997

AWARDS/HONORS

1. President, Southern Society for Pediatric Research, 2005-6

2. Young Investigator Award (Basic Science; Southern Society for Pediatric Research), 2000

3. Grant Reviewer (Ad hoc); NICHD/NIH, 2004

4. Grant Reviewer (Ad hoc); Raine Medical Research Foundation, 2005; PSI Foundation, Canada, 2003; Yale CreFF, 2002

5. Chairman’s Award (Dept of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham), May 1997

6. Best Doctors in America, 2005-6

7. Ross Award in Research (Southern Society of Pediatric Research), February 1997 and 1998

8. Highest scores in USA in the general pediatrics certifying examination (770; Oct 1996) and in the neonatal-perinatal medicine certifying examination (800; Nov 1997)

9. Medical School: Endowment prizes (first in class) in Medicine, Pediatrics, Cardiology, and Radiology; Certificates of Honor in Biochemistry, Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, and Cardiology

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AND MEMBERSHIPS

Society for Pediatric Research (SPR)

Southern Society for Pediatric Research (SSPR)

American Thoracic Society (ATS)

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

Jefferson County Medical Society (JCMS)

Medical Association of the State of Alabama (MASA)

COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES

Medical Executive Committee, Jefferson Clinic P.C./Cooper Green Hospital

Council Member, Southern Society for Pediatric Research, 2002-2004

President, Southern Society for Pediatric Research, 2005-2006

UNIVERSITY ACTIVITIES

Associate Director, Division of Neonatology

Fellowship Oversight Committee, Division of Neonatology

Fellowship Recruitment Committee, Division of Neonatology

Perinatal Mortality Committee, Division of Neonatology

PIN Replacement Committee (Physician Workflow Committee and Physician Advisory Committee), UAB

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERSHIPS

Journal of Medical Research and Practice (JMRP) (in development)

MAJOR RESEARCH INTERESTS

Basic research: Mechanisms underlying neonatal pulmonary vascular remodeling and neonatal pulmonary hypertension, in association with Dr. Yiu-Fai Chen and Dr. Suzanne Oparil of the Hypertension and Vascular Biology program at UAB, and Dr. Joanne Murphy-Ullrich of the Department of Pathology and the Cell Adhesion and Matrix Research Center.

Clinical research: Neonatal nutrition (specifically vitamin A), feeding practices, and probiotics. In collaboration with Dr. Waldemar Carlo, director of the neonatal division at UAB and Dr. Catharine Ross of Penn State University.

Epidemiological research: prediction of neonatal outcomes, in association with Dr. Waldemar Carlo and the Research Triangle Institute (RTI)/NICHD Neonatal Research Network.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Experienced in teaching pediatrics and neonatology to medical students, residents, and fellows during my years of residency, fellowship, and post-fellowship academic work.

Resident evaluations in the past two years (2004 and 2005) have ranged from ~ 4.7-4.8 (of 5).

Teaching includes:

1) monthly lectures to pediatric residents and medical students,

2) Perinatal grand rounds twice per year,

3) Pediatric grand rounds once every two years,

4) Pediatric noon conference for pediatric residents once every two years

5) Child Health Investigative Forums (CHIF) once every year

6) Annual pediatric board review (neonatology topics) is also conducted once per year for PL-3 residents.

7) PAT 702: Hughes Med-to-Grad course on Phenotyping Human Disease (Oct 2006)

Mentor for students in Master’s degree and Undergraduate Biology programs at UAB since 2000;

Mentor for Neonatology fellows since 2002; Mentor for PhD students since 2006 (see Mentorship section on page 17)

Other education-related activities:

1. Collection of neonatology teaching files and teaching images at division website (password required): www.pedsportal.uab.edu/neonatology.htm

2. Collection of neonatology teaching files at personal website

http://home.sprynet.com/~ambal/neonatal.htm

3. Collection of grant-related information at website: http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~ambal/grants.htm

MAJOR LECTURES AND VISITING PROFESSORSHIPS: See invited lectures on page 16

GRANT SUPPORT:

Past

1) Ambalavanan (PI) 7/1/1995-06/30/1996

Wyeth Pediatrics Neonatology Research Fund. $ 3,400

Research proposal: “Peptide growth factors in neonatal pulmonary vascular remodeling”

2) Ambalavanan (PI) 12/1/2001-10/31/2003

CHRC (Child Health Research Center) $ 50,000 Annual 50% effort

“Effects of endothelin-A receptor blockade on hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling”

Mentor: YF Chen Ph.D.

3) Ambalavanan (PI) 4/1/2003-3/31/2004

Cell Adhesion and Matrix Research Center, UAB $25,000 Annual 25% effort

“ECM Remodeling in Hypoxic Neonatal PVR”

4) PHA #0526041H (Ferzli) 07/01/2005-06/30/2006 0% effort

Pulmonary Hypertension Association Annual funding $34,000

“Lung Assist Device in Neonatal Porcine Respiratory Failure: Effect on Pulmonary Histopathology and Lung Mechanics”

Role: Mentor/Sponsor

The major goals of this project were to test the feasibility and efficacy of reduction of lung injury using a novel lung assist device in neonatal porcine respiratory failure

5) UAB PHHD PG (Ambalavanan) 08/01/2005 – 07/31/2006 0% effort

UAB Perinatal Health and Human Development Pilot Grant Annual funding $25,000

“TGF-beta in Lung Development During Hypoxia”

Role: PI

The major goals of this project are to determine the mechanisms by which TGF-b alters alveolar development and vascular remodeling during hypoxia in the newborn lung

Current

1) HD046513 (Ambalavanan) 4/1/2004 – 3/31/2008 75% effort

NIH K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award Annual direct cost $107,751

“MMP-2 in Neonatal Hypoxic Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling”

Role: PI

Mentor: Suzanne Oparil M.D. Co-Mentor: Joanne Murphy-Ullrich Ph.D.

Priority Score: 128

The objective of this project is to determine the mechanisms by which hypoxia alters ECM deposition during HPVR, with specific focus on the role of MMP-2 in this process.

2) HD34216 (Carlo) 04/01/96 – 03/31/06 3% effort

NICHD $822,388 No salary support

“Multi-center Network of Neonatal Intensive Care Units”

Role: Co-investigator (Alternate PI)

The major goals of this project are to work with the NICHD and the Steering Committee to prioritize, plan, implement, analyze, interpret, and report a series of randomized and observational studies.

Current projects:

Co-PI of Probiotics in Preterm Infants trial, PI of probiotic pilot studies

Premie iNO ancillary study

Cytokine ancillary study;

3) ATS/PHA Research Grant (Ambalavanan) 1/1/2007 – 12/31/2008

ATS/Pulmonary Hypertension Association Annual direct cost $50,000

Regulation of TGF-Beta in Neonatal Hypoxia Induced Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling

Role: PI

Specific Aim (1) will test the hypothesis that Dominant-Negative TGFbeta RII neonatal mice (reduced TGF-beta signaling) will have attenuation of abnormal pulmonary arterial remodeling and inhibition of alveolar development during hypoxia. Specific Aim (2) will test the hypothesis that TGF-beta activation by TSP1 is necessary and sufficient for abnormal pulmonary arterial remodeling and inhibition of alveolar development in neonatal mice. Specific Aim (3) will test the hypothesis that hypoxia-induced reductions in Thy-1 lead to TGF-beta activation in vitro and in vivo.

4) Ambalavanan (PI) 01/01/2006 – 12/31/2007 0% effort

Children’s Center for Research and Innovation Annual funding $50,000

“Transforming Growth Factor b (TGF-b) and Neonatal Lung Development in Hypoxia”

Role: PI

To major goals of this project are to test the hypotheses that hypoxia increases TSP-1, decreases Thy-1, and thereby activates TGF-b which inhibits MMP-2, leading to inhibition of alveolar development and abnormal pulmonary arterial remodeling

Pending

1) R03 HD054420-01 (Ambalavanan) 12/1/2006 – 11/30/2008 10% effort

NICHD Annual direct cost $50,000

“C-Reactive Protein in Extremely Low Birth Weight Neonates”

Role: PI

Priority Score: 112 (Percentile 0.3)

The Specific Aims of this project are (1) to determine if ELBW infants who die or develop BPD have higher serum CRP concentrations in the first postnatal week, (2) to determine if ELBW infants who die or develop BPD have higher tracheal aspirate CRP concentrations in the first postnatal week, and (3) to determine if ELBW infants who die or develop BPD have genetic polymorphisms associated with higher serum CRP concentrations.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

MANUSCRIPTS:

Peer-reviewed publications:

(In chronological order with earliest first):

1. Trehan A, Singh S, Ambalavanan N, Kumar L. Valvular Heart Disease: Rheumatic or Rheumatoid?. Indian Pediatr 34: 641- 644, 1997

2. Rayyis SF, Ambalavanan N, Wright L, Carlo WA. Randomized trial of "Slow" vs. "Fast" feed advancements on the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants. J Pediatr 134:293-297, 1999

3. Ambalavanan N, Bulger A, Philips JB III. Hypoxia-induced release of peptide growth factors from neonatal porcine pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Biol Neonate 76:311-319, 1999

4. Ambalavanan N, Mariani G, Bulger A, Philips JB III. Role of nitric oxide in regulating neonatal porcine pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation. Biol Neonate 76:291-300, 1999

5. Ambalavanan N, Nelson K, Alexander G, Johnson SE, Biasini F, Carlo WA. Prediction of neurologic morbidity in extremely low birth weight infants. J Perinatol 20: 496-503, 2000

6. Ambalavanan N, Carlo WF, Bulger A, Shi J, Philips JB III. Effect of cigarette smoke extract on neonatal porcine vascular smooth muscle cells. Tox Appl Pharmacol 170: 130-136, 2001

7. Ambalavanan N, Bulger A, Ware J, Philips JB III. Hemodynamic effects of levcromakalim in neonatal porcine pulmonary hypertension. Biol Neonate 80: 74-80, 2001

8. Carlo WF, Villamor E, Ambalavanan N, DeMey JG, Blanco CE. Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke extract impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation of chicken embryo pulmonary arteries. Biol Neonate 80:247-250, 2001

9. Ambalavanan N, Carlo WA. Comparison of the prediction of extremely low birth weight neonatal mortality by regression analysis and by neural networks. Early Hum Dev 65:123-137, 2001

10. Ambalavanan N, Bulger A, Ware J, St. John E, Philips JB III. Feasibility of nitric oxide administration by oxygen hood in a neonatal pulmonary hypertension. J Perinatol 22:50-56, 2002

11. Ambalavanan N, Philips JB 3rd, Bulger A, Oparil S, Chen YF. Endothelin-A
Receptor Blockade in Porcine Pulmonary Hypertension. Pediatr Res 52:913-921, 2002

12. Ambalavanan N, Novak ZE. Peptide growth factors in tracheal aspirates of mechanically ventilated preterm neonates. Pediatr Res 53:240-244, 2003

13. Ambalavanan N, Wu TJ, Tyson JE, Kennedy KA, Roane C, Carlo WA. A comparison of three vitamin A dosing regimens in extremely premature infants. J Pediatr 142:656-61, 2003

14. Cobb BA, Carlo WA, Ambalavanan N*. Gastric residuals and their relationship to necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants. Pediatrics 113:50-53, 2004 [*Mentor and corresponding author]

15. Castro L, Yolton K, Haberman B, Roberto N, Hansen NI, Ambalavanan N, Vohr BR, Donovan EF. Bias in reported neurodevelopmental outcomes among extremely low birth weight survivors. Pediatrics 114: 404-410, 2004

16. Ambalavanan N, Kennedy K, Tyson J, Carlo WA. Survey of vitamin A supplementation for extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants: Is clinical practice consistent with the evidence? J Pediatr 145:304-307, 2004

17. Ambalavanan N, Bulger A, Murphy-Ullrich J, Oparil S, Chen YF. Endothelin-A receptor blockade prevents and partially reverses neonatal hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling. Pediatr Res 57:631-636, 2005

18. Ambalavanan N, Tyson JE, Kennedy KA, Hansen N, Vohr BR, Wright LL, Carlo WA, and the NICHD Neonatal Research Network. Vitamin A supplementation for extremely low birth Weight infants: Outcome at 18-22 months. Pediatrics 115:e249-54, 2005

19. Ambalavanan N, Ross AC, Carlo WA. Retinol-binding protein, transthyretin, and c-reactive protein in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. J Perinatol 25:714-9, 2005

20. Ambalavanan N, Carlo W, Bobashev G, Mathias E, Poole K, Fanaroff AA, Stoll BJ, Ehrenkranz R, Wright LL. Prediction of mortality for extremely low birth weight neonates. Pediatrics 116:1367-73, 2005

21. Chen YF, Feng JA, Li P, Xing D, Serra R, Ambalavanan N, Majid-Hassan E, Oparil S. TGF-β and ANP signaling play opposing roles in hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling. J Appl Physiol 100:564-71, 2006. [Epub Oct 13, 2005]

22. Ambalavanan N, Baibergenova A, Carlo WA, Saigal S, Schmidt B, Thorpe KE, and the TIPP Investigators. Early prediction of poor outcome in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants by classification tree analysis. J Pediatr 148:438-44, 2006

23. Chen YF, Feng JA, Li P, Xing D, Ambalavanan N, Oparil S. Atrial natriuretic peptide-dependent modulation of hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling  Life Sci. 79:1357-65, 2006 [Epub Apr 27, 2006]

24. Ross AC, Ambalavanan N, Zolfaghari R, Li NQ. Vitamin A combined with retinoic acid increases retinol uptake and lung retinyl ester formation in a synergistic manner in neonatal rats. J Lipid Res. 47:1844-51, 2006 [Epub May 9, 2006]

25. Ambalavanan N, Carlo WA, Shankaran S, Bann CM, Emrich SL, Higgins RD, Tyson JE, O’Shea TM, Laptook AR, Ehrenkranz RA, Donovan EF, Walsh MC, Goldberg RN, Das A, and Follow-up Investigators for the NICHD Neonatal Research Network. Predicting outcome of neonates diagnosed with hypoxemic-ischemic encephalopathy. Pediatrics 118: 2084-93, 2006

26. Ross AC, Ambalavanan N. Dexamethasone does not antagonize the increase in retinyl esters in the lungs of neonatal rats treated with vitamin A combined with retinoic acid (VARA). Neonatology (in press)

27. Fabres J, Carlo WA, Phillips V, Howard G, Ambalavanan N*. Both extremes of arterial carbon dioxide pressure and the magnitude of fluctuations in arterial carbon dioxide pressure are associated with severe intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants. Pediatrics (in press) [*Mentor and corresponding author]

28. Ambalavanan N, Li P, Bulger A, Murphy-Ullrich J, Anderson PG, Oparil S, Chen YF. Endothelin –1 mediates hypoxia-induced increases in vascular collagen in the newborn mouse lung. Pediatr Res (in press)

Submitted:

1. Broitman E, Ambalavanan N*, Higgins R, Das A, Bhaskar B, Murray K, Vohr BR, Shankaran S, Hintz S, Carlo WA for the NICHD Neonatal Research Network. Head ultrasound for prediction of neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants. J Pediatr (Accepted pending revisions) [*corresponding author]

2. Ambalavanan N, Li P, Bulger A, Murphy-Ullrich J, Oparil S, Chen YF. Effects of hypoxia on the newborn mouse lung: the role of MMP-2. J Appl Physiol (in revision)

3. Ambalavanan N, El-Ferzli GT, Roane C, Carlo WA. Nitric oxide administration using an oxygen hood: A pilot trial.

4. Ambalavanan N, Van Meurs KP, Perritt P, Carlo WA, Ehrenkranz RA, Stevenson D, Lemons JA, Poole WK, Higgins RD, for the NICHD Neonatal Research Network. Predictors of death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants with respiratory failure.

5. James ML, Ross AC, Bulger A, Philips JB III, Ambalavanan N*. Vitamin A and retinoic acid act synergistically to reduce hyperoxic lung injury in newborn mice. [*corresponding author]

In preparation:

1. El-Ferzli GT, Philips JB III, Bulger A, Ambalavanan N. A novel lung assist device reduces pulmonary arterial pressures and improves oxygenation in a neonatal porcine model of pulmonary hypertension.

2. Ambalavanan N, Li P, Bulger A, Murphy-Ullrich J, Hagood JS, Oparil S, Chen YF. Inhibition of TGF-beta signaling attenuates neonatal hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial remodeling but not right ventricular hypertrophy or inhibition of alveolar development.

3. Ambalavanan N, Hagood JS, Li P, Bulger A, Murphy-Ullrich J, Oparil S, Chen YF. A reduction in Thy-1 due to hypoxia contributes to hypoxia-induced inhibition in alveolar development.

Non peer-reviewed publications (Medline-indexed in bold)

1. Ambalavanan N, Carlo WA. Current approaches to mechanical ventilation. Tufts University School of Medicine and Floating Hospital for Children Reports on: Neonatal Respiratory Diseases. Volume 8, No. 2, 1998 [review]

2. Ambalavanan N, Carlo WA. How would you handle these newborns? Contemporary Pediatrics 16(6): 115-133, 1999

3. Carlo WA, Ambalavanan N. Conventional Mechanical Ventilation: Traditional and New Strategies. Pediatr Rev 20(12):e117-e126, 1999 [review]

4. Ambalavanan N, Carlo WA. Analgesia for ventilated neonates: Where do we stand? J Pediatr 135:403-405, 1999 [editorial]

5. Ambalavanan N, Carlo WA. Hypocapnia and hypercapnia in respiratory management of newborn infants. Clin Perinatol 28(3):517-531, 2001 [review]

6. Ambalavanan N. Recent advances in fluid management. Journal of Neonatology 16 (1): 59-65, 2002 [review]

7. Ambalavanan N, Whyte R. The mismatch between evidence and practice: common therapies in search of evidence. Clin Perinatol 30:305-331, 2003

8. Ambalavanan N, Carlo WA. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: new insights. Clin Perinatol 31:613-628, 2004 [review]

9. Ambalavanan N, Toms R. Permissive hypercapnia during mechanical ventilation of neonates. Indian Pediatrics 41:775-778, 2004. [editorial]

10. Carlo WA, Prince LS, St John EB, Ambalavanan N. Care of very low birth weight infants with respiratory distress syndrome: an evidence-based review. Minerva Pediatr. 56:373-80, 2004 [review]