Translational Advances in Neonatal Intensive Care: Inflammatory Pathways, Regenerative Therapies, and Long-Term Outcomes

Neonatal morbidities such as Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), and Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN) remain significant challenges in the modern NICU. Traditionally evaluated and managed as isolated organ failures, emerging translational evidence reveals that these conditions share a critical common thread: early systemic inflammation, microvascular disruption, and hemodynamic instability acting upon an immature host. While conventional supportive care—such as mechanical ventilation and cardiovascular stabilization—remains vital, it is largely reactive and often fails to arrest progressive secondary injury cascades or promote tissue repair. As our understanding of these shared pathophysiological mechanisms deepens, so does the imperative and potential for novel, targeted, and disease-modifying interventions.This Research Topic aims to bridge the gap between early neonatal injury and long-term neurodevelopmental and pulmonary outcomes. By uniting major neonatal morbidities under a shared mechanistic framework, this collection moves beyond clinical silos to highlight the next frontier in neonatal intensive care: moving from reactive organ support toward active biological restoration.We particularly welcome submissions exploring cutting-edge biotherapies, including the role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), Extracellular Vesicles (EVs), and cell-free secretomes, in mitigating inflammatory injury and driving cellular repair. By integrating research on early bedside hemodynamic monitoring, cellular repair mechanisms, and structured long-term follow-up for high-risk and preterm infants, this collection seeks to advance evidence-based strategies that improve intact survival and lifelong quality of life.We welcome submissions on, but not limited to, the following themes:• Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) & Regenerative Biotherapies: Preclinical efficacy, cellular mechanisms, homing, and therapeutic potential of MSCs in neonatal lung, brain, and retinal injury.• Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) & Exosomes: Cargo characterization (miRNA, proteins), immunomodulatory mechanisms, and targeted delivery models in neonatal inflammatory disease.• Shared Inflammatory & Microvascular Pathways: Cross-organ molecular cascades, endothelial injury, and cytokine signaling connecting HIE, BPD, and ROP.• Novel Targeted Therapeutics: Biologic agents, cytokine-directed therapies, and pathway-specific interventions to halt early neonatal tissue injury.• Early Hemodynamic & Microcirculatory Monitoring: Advanced bedside monitoring (e.g., NIRS, targeted neonatal echocardiography, microvascular perfusion) and its relationship to systemic inflammation.• Predictive Biomarkers: Discovery and validation of early molecular and multi-omic biomarkers bridging acute injury to long-term impairment.• Translational Animal Models: High-fidelity preclinical models of neonatal hypoxia-ischemia, hyperoxia-induced lung injury, and systemic inflammation.• Early-Phase Clinical Trials & Safety: Protocol design, dosing, delivery routes, and safety profiling of advanced cellular products in neonatal populations.• Structured Long-Term Outcomes: Longitudinal pulmonary, neurodevelopmental, and visual follow-up protocols assessing the durability of early interventions.• Ethical, Regulatory, and Manufacturing Standards: Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) considerations, ethical frameworks, and trial design challenges in translational neonatology. Topic editors: Seda Yilmaz, Evrim KIRAY BAŞ, Tanzeema Hossain Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86793/translational-advances-in-neonatal-intensive-care-inflammatory-pathways-regenerative-therapies-and-long-term-outcomes