Meet Our Team
Carl H. Backes Jr., MD
Principal Investigator
Carl H. Backes, Jr, MD, is a member of the Center for Perinatal Research at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. He is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, and Attending Neonatologist and Attending Cardiologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital. His clinical interests include the care of premature infants born with congenital heart disease. His research interests involve improving outcomes among premature infants with adverse cardiovascular or hemodynamic sequala.
Kristen L. Benninger, MD
Principal Investigator
Dr. Benninger's clinical and research interests focus on identifying changes in early brain structure and function resulting from in-utero opioid exposure and correlation with later neurodevelopment. Her ultimate goal is to design interventions targeting modifiable clinical or environmental factors that promote optimal neurodevelopment in children with in-utero opioid exposure.
Bernadette Chen, MD
Principal Investigator
Bernadette Chen, MD, is a member of the Section of Neonatology at Nationwide Children's Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She is also an investigator in the Center for Perinatal Research at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Dr. Chen's interests are in the Adenylate Cyclase-cAMP-Phosphodiesterase 3 pathway and its role in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN).
Matthew J. Kielt, MD
Principal Investigator
Matthew J, Kielt, MD, is an attending neonatologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Kielt's clinical interests include bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and neonatal pulmonary vascular disease. He practices in the Comprehensive Center for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia. Dr. Kielt's research interests focus on improving outcomes of infants with the most severe forms of BPD through the development of precision medicine strategies of neonatal care.
Leeann R. Pavlek, MD
Principal Investigator
Leeann Pavlek, MD, MS, is a principal investigator in the Center for Perinatal Research at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute. She is an attending Neonatologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Her research interests include cardiac development in premature infants, the impact of maternal conditions such as pre-eclampsia on heart structure and function in the newborn, and improving the management and outcomes of extremely premature infants.
Lance Relland, MD, PhD
Anesthesiologist, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, The Ohio State University & Principal Investigator, the Abigail Wexner Research Institute
Lance M. Relland, MD, PhD, is an Anesthesiologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, and Principal Investigator in the Center for Clinical and Translational Research in The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at NCH. He is also Principal Investigator in the Baby Brain Optimization Project at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and in an NIH-funded Small Business Innovation Research program. Dr. Relland has dual board certification in anesthesiology and pediatric anesthesiology, and advanced training in pediatric regional anesthesiology and acute pain management. He has expertise in immunology, anesthesia, and pain assessment and treatment. His primary focus is on patient-oriented research in neonates, infants, and young children in the critical care and perioperative setting. His research interests include using brain-oriented measures to characterize objectively the effects of various types of anesthetic techniques in the youngest of patients in order to provide tailored treatments that optimize brain growth and development.
Pablo J. Sanchez, MD
Principal Investigator
Pablo J. Sanchez, MD is a principal investigator in the Center for Perinatal Research at The Research Institute and a professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Sanchez is also a board-certified neonatologist and pediatric infectious diseases specialist, and the director of Clinical and Translational Research in Neonatology at Nationwide Children's Hospital. His clinical and translational research focuses on perinatal/neonatal infections and antibiotic stewardship.
Jonathan L. Slaughter, MD, MPH
Principal Investigator
Jonathan L. Slaughter, MD, MPH, is a neonatologist and principal investigator in the Center for Perinatal Research within The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and an associate professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University. Dr. Slaughter's ultimate goal is to improve outcomes important to neonatal patients and their families through research that leads directly to improvements in neonatal clinical care. His patient-centered research program focuses on comparative effectiveness research to determine which treatments work best for neonatal patients given specific clinical circumstances and patient characteristics.
Nancy Batterson, OT/L, SCFES, CLC
Occupational Therapist
Nancy Batterson, OT/L, SCFES, CLC, is an occupational therapist in the Center for Perinatal Research of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She received her bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Nancy has been practicing in occupational therapy for 30 years and has the AOTA Specialty Certification of Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing and is a Certified Lactation Counselor. Nancy works in the outpatient Occupational Therapy Department as well as the Center for Perinatal Research at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Her research interests include early detection and treatment of cerebral palsy, motor development of premature and at risk infants, and feeding, eating and swallowing with the premature, neurological impaired or at risk infant. Nancy currently works on a variety of projects within the Baby Brain Optimization Project Lab including the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Mother’s Voice Research Study, NAS study, and constraint induced movement therapy studies.
Himangini Singh Dixit, MBBS
Clinical Research Assistant
HimanginiSingh.Dixit@NationwideChildrens.org
Himangini Singh Dixit, MBBS, is an ECFMG certified medical doctor from India. Clinical Research is an opportunity for Dr. Dixit to keep growing her medical knowledge and medical experience, improve her communication skills with patients and establish a solid foundation in her further goal of pediatric residency. She is a clinical research assistant in the Backes Lab on multiple studies, including a PDA Prediction Study enrolling five different sites across greater Columbus. She provides support to her team and coordinates all elements of a research study to ensure the study progresses efficiently. She is passionate about improving clinical care and treatments through research in the neonatal population in order to have a good quality of life. She has a very compassionate and helpful personality.
Arnaud Jeanvoine, PhD
Director of Research and Development
Arnaud.Jeanvoine@NationwideChildrens.org
Arnaud Jeanvoine, PhD, is the Director of Research and Development in the BBOP research laboratory. Prior to joining the BBOP Team, his previous research in Lyon, France and Lausanne, Switzerland was based on denoising audio signals and using EEG techniques on speech evoked auditory brainstem response in adults with normal hearing and deaf adults. Current research in the BBOP Lab is based on analysis of EEG data and applying new technology including inverse solution and machine learning to neurodevelopmental research, but he is also currently involved in multiple studies in the lab.
Roopi Korada
Research Intern
Roopi.Korada@NationwideChildrens.org
Roopi is currently an undergraduate student at the Ohio State University majoring in biology under their honors program. She has been a part of the Nationwide Children's team since December of 2018. As a part of the Center for Perinatal Research, Roopi's research focuses primarily on preterm birth and the impacts of perinatal exposures on heart function. Previously, the team has studied the impacts of maternal inflammation and postnatal hyperoxia on heart development and morphology, where they identified the upregulation of several microRNAs that are involved in contractile strength and energy consumption. Roopi's current research investigates the clinical outcomes of perinatal exposures, primarily preeclampsia, and their consequences on the development of cardiac structure and function in the neonate.
Laura Marzec, IMG
Clinical Research Lead Coordinator
Laura.Marzec@NationwideChildrens.org
Laura is a Medical Doctor from Venezuela. Laura is pursuing pediatric residency here in the United States. Research is a pathway for Laura to continue her medical experience, nurture relationships, and broaden her exposure to leading medicine. Laura is committed to the mission Nationwide Children's Hospital stands for in the medical community. Laura is married and has a 3 year old daughter. She enjoys traveling, dancing, and cooking. Currently, Laura is the Lead Coordinator for the PDA prediction study. This study actively enrolls premature infants at 5 different NICU’s across the greater Columbus area. She provides support to members of the staff and coordinates all elements of the research study to ensure that the study progresses efficiently and the data quality is maintained throughout. Laura’s interests in research include how to improve care for premature infants while in the NICU as well as improving their quality of life at discharge.
Jacqueline McCool
Data Research Coordinator
Jacqueline.Mccool@NationwideChildrens.org
Jackie McCool is the Data Coordinator at Nationwide Children's Hospital Center for Perinatal Research. She works closely with Clinical Research Coordinators in the timely entry and retrieval of all patient data in various forms. She also supports OPRN in maintaining and updating management sections of the operational manuals for all/any OPRN clinical studies. She assists with the preparation and maintenance of clinical research charts for each protocol patient. She identifies and enters clinical research data into the computer program data bases, spreadsheets, chart flowsheets. She tracks data clarifications, data corrections and query resolutions within the electronic data capture (EDC) systems. Her passion as a Data Coordinator is to provide her knowledge, skills, and incorporate continuous quality improvement to the best of her ability.
Mary Ann Nelin, MD, FAAP
Staff Physician, Division of Ambulatory Medicine at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University
Dr. Nelin is a general pediatrician who spent 9.5 years in the Neonatal Follow-up Clinic following infants at high risk for neurodevelopmental delay. She is a member of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and has been involved in committee work through the Academy. She is certified by the General Movements Trust (GM Trust) for the Basic Training Course on "Prechtl's Method on the Qualitative Assessment of General Movements" and serves as a neurological examiner for the NICHD NRN Follow-up Study, focusing on babies previously lost to follow-up. As part of BBOP team, she performs the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination on children in the Constraint Induced Movement Therapy Study and is certified to perform fine and gross motor portions of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd Edition.
Joanie Randle
Clinical Research Coordinator RN
Joanie.Randle@NationwideChildrens.org
Joanie Randle is a member of the Center for Perinatal Research at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital where she is a Clinical Research Coordinator-RN. She received her Master's Degree from The George Washington University School of Medicine (Integrative Medicine) and holds a BSN from The Ohio State University College of Nursing. Her clinical interests include improving nursing care for premature infants. Her research interests involve investigating the Poly Vagal Theory in relation to morbidities of prematurity. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, The International Lactation Consultants Association and the United States Lactation Consultants Association.
Brian Rivera
Research Associate
Brian.Rivera@NationwideChildrens.org
Formally trained as a biomedical engineer, Brian is the "Swiss Army Knife" of Dr. Backes' lab. His responsibilities are many and varied - from processing samples to running assays to preparing protocols. Brian's research interests during my tenure here at Nationwide Children's Hospital also vary, but primarily involves extremely preterm infants.
Kelly Schmidt
Clinical Research Coordinator
Kelly.Schmidt@NationwideChildrens.org
Kelly has experience as a developmental therapist in infant/toddler early intervention and conducted my own research projects as a doctoral student studying Applied Developmental Psychology. As a Clinical Research Coordinator, she is seeing former preemies at age 2 and age 5 to assess their physical, cognitive, and language development and collecting data from caregivers about their perceptions of their children's development. It is a joy to see how interventions used in the NICU help set preemies on a positive developmental trajectory and how resilient young children are! Kelly's research interests include early childhood development, parenting, and early intervention.
Kristi Small
Program Coordinator
Kristi.Small@NationwideChildrens.org
Kristi joined Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 2015, beginning in the hospital’s Inpatient Pharmacy. After a few years in this role, Kristi transitioned to Perinatal Research in the beginning of 2018, as a Follow Up Coordinator. This role really grew the passion for neonatology and perinatal research. Now, as a Program Coordinator, Kristi is responsible for all aspects of study initiation for the Ohio Perinatal Research Network. This includes regulatory aspects, as well as development for site-specific protocols regarding how research studies will be conducted here at NCH. Kristi has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology & Global Public Health from The Ohio State University. She plans on continuing her education, with a strong desire to continue helping provide best outcomes to children and infants.
Rachelle Srinivas
Research Intern
Rachelle.Srinivas@NationwideChildrens.org
Rachelle Srinivas is a research intern in the Center for Perinatal Research of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a minor in neuroscience from The Ohio State University, and is currently pursuing a medical degree at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her role consists of assisting on a variety of projects and data collection. Her research interests include early childhood neurodevelopment and targeted interventions for NICU infants.
Rox Ann Sullivan
Clinical Research Coordinator-RN
Roxann.Sullivan@NationwideChildrens.org
Rox Ann joined the Abigail Wexner Research Institute 2009 as the Clinical Research Manager of the Ohio Better Birth Outcomes (OBBO) Collaborative. She transitioned to a Clinical Research Coordinator-RN, in the Ohio Perinatal Research Network (OPRN), in 2010, and has been there ever since. Rox Ann has a BSN from Xavier University and served in the United States Army Reserves as an Army Officer for 6 years. Her research interests are with the prevention of premature birth and the prevention and reduction of the complications of prematurity to achieve the best possible outcomes for every child.
Aishwarya Tallikar
Clinical Research Coordinator
Aishwarya.Tallikar@NationwideChildrens.org
Aishwarya joined Nationwide Children's Hospital as a Clinical Research Coordinator for the Center of Perinatal Research in March of 2021. She finds it fascinating to understand the causes and mechanisms of preterm birth, as well as the methods in place to reduce the complications associated with preterm birth. Prior to joining Nationwide Children's, Aishwarya was a Clinical Research Assistant for the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary. She helped develop a Uveitis Registry database to capture recruitment records for more than 300 patients, producing research reports towards the course, treatment and outcomes of ocular inflammatory diseases. Aishwarya has a Bachelors of Science degree in Neuroscience from The Ohio State University. She has experience in the areas of nonprofits, social justice, and clinical research.
Eli Zettler
Clinical Research Coordinator
Eli.Zettler@NationwideChildrens.org
Eli is a recent Ohio State graduate who majored in microbiology. Cardiology has always been fascinating to him, making the research we do in the Backes Lab a natural fit! Being able to talk to parents about their new babies is an extremely rewarding experience that Eli has enjoyed immensely. Making a difference, even if only reassuring a parent about their newborn, is what motivates him daily. Eventually, Eli would like to use the numerous skills he has acquired at Nationwide Children’s Hospital to become a doctor himself. Outside of work Eli is passionate about his two cats, outdoor activities and English soccer.