Professional experience
He is assistant professor at the University of Zurich (since July 2019) and works as a neonatologist (staff member) at the University Hospital Zurich (Department of Neonatology). Since 2019 he has been leading the NGN Research Center for neurodevelopment, growth and nutrition of the newborn in both institutions.
During his clinical training, he specialized in developmental and behavioral pediatrics and neonatology, with the aim of better understanding how to improve the development of at-risk newborn infants and better support their parents. Since 2008 he has coordinated the national follow-up program for newborns at risk.
His research background spans four areas focused on the neurodevelopment of high-risk infants: neuro-monitoring and neuro-protection in the neonatal intensive care unit, long-term neurodevelopment and quality of life for preterm born children. In his new function as assistant professor he embarked on a project on the association between early nutrition and neurodevelopment with a special interest in human milk and other non-nutritive environmental factors. For this reason he created a research group that deal with clinical- (USZ) and basic science (Schlieren Campus) projects.
Research focus areas
- Larsson-Rosenquist Stiftung-Professur für Neuroentwicklung, Wachstum und Ernährung des Neugeborenen
- Developmental paediatrics, BrainDNIU study (Impact of intrauterine growth restriction on brain development and consequences for later neurodevelopmental outcome: a prospective cohort study), IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Restriction)