Patricia Davenport, MD

Dr. Patricia Davenport is a neonatologist and physician-scientist who is dedicated to the study of neonatal hematology and transfusion medicine with a focus on platelet biology and platelet transfusions. She received her medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, completed her pediatric residency at New York University and her subspecialty training in Neonatology in the Harvard Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Program. During her fellowship she trained in the laboratory of Dr. Martha Sola-Visner and developed a strong knowledge of platelet and megakaryocyte biology, transfusion medicine, and modeling of neonatal specific diseases using both in vivo and in vitro laboratory techniques. She now runs her own NIH funded research laboratory at Boston Children’s Hospital focused on investigating the effects of neonatal platelet transfusions administered in the setting of common neonatal diseases (including sepsis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia) using murine models of neonatal disease, human cell culture systems, and clinical investigation. The focus of her work centers on the immune rather than hemostatic effects of platelets and investigates how differences in immune function between neonatal and adult platelets potentially contributes to the increase in mortality, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and poor neurodevelopmental outcomes seen with liberal neonatal platelet transfusion practices. In addition to her laboratory-based investigations, Dr. Davenport is dedicated to translating her research findings to the neonatal intensive care unit and improving clinical transfusion practices. She is a founding member and current steering committee member of the North American Neonatal Hematology and Transfusion Interest Group (NeoHeaT). This group brings together a multi-disciplinary group of researchers and physicians with the goal of facilitating multicenter epidemiological, clinical, and translational studies addressing important questions in neonatal hematology/transfusion medicine, formulating national transfusion guidelines, and disseminating knowledge on these topics to the broader neonatal community. In summary, Dr. Davenport’s research program is committed to advancing our understanding of neonatal hematology and transfusion medicine to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable patients. Through her laboratory science, clinical investigation, and leadership roles, she aims to bridge the gap between the bench and the bedside to implement safer, evidence-based transfusion practices that prioritize the unique physiology of neonates.