I am an assistant professor at the University of Zurich and work as a neonatologist and developmental pediatrician in the Department of Neonatology at the University Hospital Zurich. Since 2019, I have headed the LRF Center for Neurodevelopment, Growth and Nutrition of the Newborn, which is affiliated with both institutions. During my clinical training, I specialized in developmental pediatrics and neonatology to better understand how to improve the development of particularly small and fragile newborns and better support their parents. Since 2008, I have coordinated the national follow-up program for extremely premature infants.

My research background includes four areas that focus on the neurological development of high-risk infants: neurological monitoring and neuroprotection in the neonatal intensive care unit, long-term neurocognitive development and quality of life of preterm infants, and infants with intrauterine growth restriction. In my new role as Assistant Professor and with the support of my team, I have initiated projects focusing on the relationship between early feeding, especially with breast milk, other environmental factors and neurodevelopment. To this end, I was able to establish a research group that focuses on clinical research (USZ) and basic research (Schlieren campus).

Main research areas

• Neonatology
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Prematurity
• Breast milk nutrition
• Intrauterine growth retardation