Update Your ProfileAcademic Title:
Associate Professor
Primary Appointment:
Pediatrics
Additional Title:
Medical Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Location:
Paca-Pratt, 8-N-167
Phone (Primary):
410-328-6003
Phone (Secondary):
410-328-4675
Fax:
410-328-1076
Education and Training
Sripriya Sundararajan is an Associate Professor in the Division of Neonatology at University of Maryland. She originally received her MD in Pediatrics from Chennai Medical College, India after completing medical school from Stanley Medical College, India. She recertified in Pediatrics and completed her fellowship training in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine from the University of Virginia. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, section member of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, member of the Society for Pediatric Research and a council member of the Eastern Society for Pediatric Research.
Biosketch
Dr. Sundararajan's research focuses on improving patient outcomes in preterm infants by reducing morbidities including necrotizing enterocolitis and retinopathy of prematurity. Dr Sundararajan studies the impact of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions on preterm infants and the benefits of placental transfusion associated with delayed cord clamping. Dr Sundararajan has established standardized guidelines for blood product use including RBC and Platelet transfusions in the NICU. She led a multidisciplinary institutional effort to incorporate delayed cord clamping into clinical practice. She has played a significant role in reducing hypothermia in neonates after delivery by enforcing the WARM bundle in the Labor and Delivery unit at UMMC. Dr Sundararajan also worked collaboratively with MFM., Pediatric Cardiology, and PCICU in revising the neonatal cardiac classification and criteria for the disposition of high-risk infants with critical congenital heart disease at UMMC.
As the Medical Director of a level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the state of Maryland, Dr Sundararajan oversees highly complex patients and creates solutions to make things better. She leads the clinical mission by incorporating evidence to create guidelines; developing systems that evaluate, monitor, and improve patient and team-based care; coordinating care among obstetric and pediatric subspecialty providers; mediating conflict between providers and with families; and acting as a liaison between the NICU staff and administration. As the Neonatal Director of OB-MFM relations, Dr Sundararajan facilitates consultation with high-risk pregnant mothers by working closely with the Maternal-Fetal Medicine group at UMMC. Dr Sundararajan is actively involved in medical student education through MELA and has served as preceptor for Practice of Medicine (POM-2) course and Pediatric Clerkship rotations.
Research/Clinical Keywords
Neonatal red blood cell transfusion, newborn hypothermia reduction in the delivery room and at NICU admission, delayed cord clamping and study of intestinal microbiome and intestinal barrier function in very low birth weight infants
Highlighted Publications
Roskes L, Chamzas A, Ma B, Medina AE, Gopalakrishnan M, Viscardi RM, Sundararajan S. Early human milk feeding: Relationship to intestinal barrier maturation and postnatal growth. Pediatr Res. 2024 Oct 14. doi: 10.1038/s41390-024-03622-5. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39397156.
Retinal blood flow association with age and weight in infants at risk for Retinopathy of Prematurity.
Patel M, Gopalakrishnan M, Sundararajan S. Impact of Delayed Cord Clamping on Red Blood Cell Transfusion and related outcomes in Very Low Birth Weight Infants. Am J Perinatol. 2023 Jun 22. doi: 10.1055/a-2115-4360. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37348546.
Ma B, Sundararajan S, Nadimpalli G, France M, McComb E, Rutt L, Lemme-Dumit JM, Janofsky E, Roskes LS, Gajer P, Fu L, Yang H, Humphrys M, Tallon LJ, Sadzewicz L, Pasetti MF, Ravel J, Viscardi RM. Highly Specialized Carbohydrate Metabolism Capability in Bifidobacterium Strains Associated with Intestinal Barrier Maturation in Early Preterm Infants. mBio. 2022 Jun 28;13(3):e0129922. doi: 10.1128/mbio.01299-22. Epub 2022 Jun 13. PMID: 35695455; PMCID: PMC9239261
Sundararajan S, Doctor A. Early recognition of neonatal sepsis using a bioinformatic vital sign monitoring tool. Pediatr Res. 2022 Jan;91(2):270-272. doi: 10.1038/s41390-021-01829-4. Epub 2021 Oct 29. PMID: 34716420.
Sundararajan S. Ideal blood inoculant volume for neonatal sepsis evaluation: an alternative approach. Pediatr Res. 2021 Nov;90(5):930-933. doi: 10.1038/s41390-021-01720-2. Epub 2021 Aug 27. PMID: 34453121.
Eastern Society for Pediatric Research – DEI Committee and 2021 ESPR pre-conference DEI session speakers. Pediatric research's societal commitment to diversity: a regional approach to an international crisis. Pediatr Res. 2022 Feb 28. doi: 10.1038/s41390-022-01991-3. Epub ahead of print. Erratum in: Pediatr Res. 2022 Mar 23;: PMID: 35228671.
Schecter LV, Medina AE, Alexander JL, Sundararajan S. Impact of early postnatal exposure of red blood cell transfusions on the severity of retinopathy of prematurity. J Neonatal Perinatal Med. 2021 Jun 5. doi: 10.3233/NPM-200679. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34120920.
Liviu Cojocaru, Sarah Crimmins, Sripriya Sundararajan, Katherine Goetzinger, Emad lsamadicy, Allison Lankford, Ozhan M Turan, Shifa Turan. An Initiative to Evaluate the Safety of Maternal Bonding in Patients with SARS CoV2 Infection. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2020.1828335. PMID: 32998572
Sundararajan, Sripriya, and Heike Rabe. "Prevention of iron-deficiency anemia in infants and toddlers." Pediatric Research (2020): 1-12. DOI:10.1038/s41390-020-0907-5.PMID:32330927
Sundararajan S, Falck AJ, Al-Mudares F, Contag SA, and Bearer CF. Fetal exposure to mercury and lead from intrauterine transfusions. Pediatr Res.2019 Jun 19. doi:10.1038/s41390-019-0463-z. PMID: 31216568
Aghion, A., Falck, A. J., & Sundararajan, S. (2019). Case: Sudden unexpected collapse in a full term infant. NeoReviews. 2019 Dec;20(12):e744-e747. doi: 10.1542/neo.20-12-e744.PMID: 31792162
Lanlokun, M., Capriolo, C. M., Alexander, J. L., & Sundararajan, S. (2018). Case 2: Feeding Intolerance Following Topical Atropine Instillation in a Premature Infant. NeoReviews, 19(12), e765-e769.
Kochan, M. J., Freiden, T., Pyle, M., Isaiah, A., & Sundararajan, S. (2018). An Infant with Severe Stridor and Cyanosis at Birth. NeoReviews, 19(12), e783-e786.
Olayemi O. Ajayi, Natalie L. Davis, Bushra Saleem, Shiv Kapoor, Adora C. Okogbule-Wonodi, Rose M. Viscardi, and Sripriya Sundararajan: Impact of red blood cell transfusions on intestinal barrier function in preterm infants. J Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, 2018 Nov 8. doi: 10.3233/NPM-1828 PMID: 30412507
Verde BL, Kaushal S, Slack MC, Sundararajan S. Venous-Arterial ECMO as a Vital Bridge for Survival in a Neonate with Cor-triatriatum Dexter. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2017; 2: 1409. ISSN: 2474-1655
*Sundararajan, Sripriya, Bearer,Cynthia,F. Epigenetics, the Environment, and Children's Health across Lifespans 1 ed. Hollar D, editor. Springer International Publishing Switzerland: 2016. Chapter 5, Role of environmental epigenetics in perinatal and neonatal development; p.pp 117-134. XXI, 386p.
Carrasco M, Rao SC, Bearer CF, *Sundararajan S. Neonatal Gabapentin Withdrawal Syndrome. Pediatr Neurol. 2015 Nov;53(5):445-7.doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2015.06.023. Epub 2015 Jul 8. PubMed [citation] PMID: 26278632
*Sripriya Sundararajan, Allison M. Blatz, Dorr G. Dearborn, Arthur W. Varnes, Cynthia F. Bearer, and Dina El Metwally: Toxic metal contamination of banked blood designated for neonatal transfusion. Journal of Clinical Toxicology, Sept 2015. J Clin Toxicol 5:267. doi:10.4172/2161-0495.1000267
Luzina IG, Todd NW, Sundararajan S, Atamas SP.The cytokines of pulmonary fibrosis: Much learned, much more to learn. Cytokine. 2015 Jul;74(1):88-100.doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2014.11.008. Epub 2014 Dec 24. Review. PubMed [citation] PMID: 25543535
*Sundararajan S, Dodhy SC, Pittman RN, Lewis SJ. Effects of non-leukocyte-reduced and leukocyte-reduced packed red blood cell transfusions on oxygenation of rat spinotrapezius muscle. Microvasc Res. 2014 Jan;91:30-6. doi: 10.1016/j.mvr.2013.10.005. Epub 2013 Nov 2. PubMed [citation] PMID: 24189119, PMCID: PMC4386583
*Sundararajan S, Gaston B. Sickle cell disease does not decrease pulmonary nitric oxide. J Pediatr. 2012 Jan;160(1):6-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2011.08.024. Epub 2011 Sep 14. PubMed [citation] PMID: 21924434
Additional Publication Citations
Published Multimedia
Sundararajan, Sripriya: Upper Airway Obstruction In The Newborn. Organization of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Training Program Directors' National Neonatal Flipped Classroom Program. American Academy of Pediatrics, 2019.
Research Interests
Dr. Sundararajan's major research interests include:
- Study the intestinal microbiome in relation to anemia and blood transfusion in very low birth weight infants.
- Study the impact of delayed cord clamping on pulse-oximetry changes at delivery in very preterm and low birth weight infants.
- Study association between RBC transfusion and clinical outcomes, including Retinopathy of Prematurity and NEC in ELBW infants.
- Neonatal vital sign monitoring during ROP exams in preterm infants
- Quality improvement projects including neonatal hypothermia reduction in the delivery room and at NICU admission.
Clinical Specialty Details
Dr Sundararajan specializes in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine.
Awards and Affiliations
Mentor recognition award from the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine and Office of Student Research for transformational impact on medical students (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021).
Eastern Society for Pediatric Research – Council Member / Co-Chair for Planning Committee
Grants and Contracts
09/16/2019 – 06/30/2021 Sundararajan* (Co-Inv, 5%; PI – B. Ma)
"Role of short chain fatty acids in intestinal barrier maturation in preterm
infants"
R 21 NIH grant
*Responsible for IRB protocol, enrollment of subjects, data collection, and
contribution to dissemination of results
01/01/2019 – 12/31/2021 Sundararajan* (Co-Inv, 5%; PI – B. Ma)
"An accurate, non-invasive discriminatory screening test for rapid detection of
elevated intestinal permeability in preterm infants”
Gerber Foundation Grant
*Responsible for IRB protocol, enrollment of subjects, data collection, and
contribution to dissemination of results
In the News
Dr Sundararajan regularly mentors medical students as part of Foundation of Research and Critical Thinking (FRCT) at UMSOM. Dr Sundararajan’s mentored medical students have previously won multiple prizes for both best oral presentations and poster presentations at the annual medical student research day at University Of Maryland School Of Medicine.
Community Service
Dr Sundararajan was the physician representative for "Howard County Drug Free" initiative at Mt. Hebron High School 2017-2019.
Professional Activity
Medical Student Education (2014-present):
Dr Sundararajan regularly mentors medical students as part of the Foundations of Research and Critical Thinking (FRCT). Dr Sundararajan is also the faculty mentor for Lois Young-Thomas House of the Core Mentoring Group geared towards medical student career advancement at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She promotes advising and mentoring for medical students across all four years of medical school, assist students with career development, encourages students to serve as peer advisors and role models for other students and develop a community of support and mentorship for those dedicated to education.
Dr Sundararajan has served as a preceptor for Practice of Medicine - PoM (formerly Introduction to Clinical Medicine-1) course offered to first and second year medical students and as Teaching Attending for third year medical students during their Pediatric Clerkship rotations.
Neonatology Fellow Education:
Dr Sundararajan was the Course Director for the pathophysiology curriculum at the University of Maryland Neonatal-Perinatal fellowship program (2015-2022). She has participated with the National Neonatology Curriculum to support educational efforts through flipped classroom guides from Minute CE program to benefit neonatology fellows.
Dr Sundararajan is the faculty representative from the Division of Neonatology at UMSOM for the quarterly Section on Neonatal Perinatal medicine (SONPM) newsletter. She is involved with both the submission and dissemination of the quarterly section newsletter and the “Articles of Interest” monthly content from SONPM to all the Neonatology faculty and house staff.