Nelly Padilla

I am a pediatrician and neonatologist, as well as an associate professor and affiliated researcher at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health at Karolinska Institutet. My research focuses on multimodal MRI to study brain development in healthy and high-risk populations, primarily preterm infants. I integrate advanced imaging methods with neurodevelopmental and clinical data to identify early neurobiological markers, offering a new approach to predicting and personalizing care for infants and children in need.

I am interested in understanding brain development in both healthy and high-risk populations, particularly preterm infants, using multimodal MRI and advanced imaging techniques. My research integrates neurodevelopmental and clinical data to identify early neurobiological markers, improving predictions and personalized care strategies.

Building on this foundation, I aim to use simulations and advanced computational modeling to study brain network dynamics in preterm and full-term children. Through these simulations, I will explore factors influencing brain growth and test safe intervention strategies. By combining brain imaging, modeling, and clinical data, this approach seeks to refine predictions of neurodevelopmental outcomes, ultimately enhancing care for at-risk infants and supporting their families.

Additionally, I am interested in the origins of consciousness and how it emerges in the preterm infant. By investigating early brain activity and network organization, I aim to explore the developmental foundations of consciousness, providing insights into how premature birth shapes early cognitive and sensory experiences.

Every year I organize and teach at the PhD course "Early Child Development: “Extended Interactions Between Neural Networks, Body and Environment".