Chetta Laboratory for Neonatal Nutrition Research
Human Milk
Degradome
Studying the beauty of the breakdown.
Welcome to Dr. Chetta’s Neonatal Nutrition Laboratory, where a scientific approach meets creativity. We investigate neonatal gastrointestinal diseases and create cutting-edge solutions that support the health outcomes of critically ill babies.
Nutritional, microbial and neonatal research at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
Research
Our lab specializes in neonatal nutrition, biobanking, NICU quality improvement projects, and innovative medical research aimed at enhancing healthcare outcomes with high-impact collaboration.
Human milk & nutrition
Human milk is at the center of our neonatal nutrition research, including the Human Milk Degradome: how milk lipids break down into fatty acids, and what that may mean for the preterm gut. Our NICU is partnered with the Mother’s Milk Bank of South Carolina, which provides donor milk to premature infants.
Neonatal GI disease
We investigate neonatal gastrointestinal diseases, including necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), through nutritional, microbial and neonatal research that supports the health outcomes of critically ill babies.
Biobanking & NICU QI
We host the 8th site for the NIH-funded NEC Biorepository, and our work includes NICU quality improvement projects that make a difference.
News
NIH K23 award
Dr. Chetta receives an NIH K23 award
Katie Chetta, MD, has received a K23 career development award from the National Institutes of Health for her project, Lipid Degradation and Preterm Intestinal Outcomes.
MUSC ARROW award
John R. Raymond Fellowship Award
Dr. Chetta received the MUSC ARROW: John R. Raymond Award to study in the laboratory of Dr. Misty Good.
John Baatz, PhD (left), Dr. Chetta, and Carol Wagner, MD (right).
Team
Katie Chetta, MD
Principal Investigator
Danny Newton, PhD
Staff Scientist
Allison Rohrer, R.D.
Neonatal Dietitian
Carol Wagner, MD
Mentor
John Baatz, PhD
Mentor
NEC Biorepository
We host the 8th site for the NIH-funded NEC Biorepository
Our biobank provides a diverse range of biological samples such as blood, urine, stool and breast milk, ensuring researchers have access to high-quality resources for their studies.
Funded in part by the NEC Society and the David and Laura Stone Foundation for Neonatal Research.
Milk Bank
Mother’s Milk Bank of South Carolina
The Mother’s Milk Bank of South Carolina is partnered with our NICU. There we see firsthand how access to healthcare resources impacts children’s health, from providing donor milk to premature infants to supporting families in need.
Help babies now! Ask about opportunities to donate to our research or participate in giving breastmilk to SC babies.
Contact
Katie Chetta, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology
MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston
We welcome academic collaborations and industry partnerships in research projects. Contact us to learn more about our research initiatives and collaborations.