The Human Milk Lipidome and Virome: A Case-Control Study of NEC in Very Preterm Infants
The NEC Society is honored to present Katie Strobel, MD, MS, with the Early Career Faculty Research Award.
Dr. Strobel is a neonatologist from Seattle Children’s Hospital and Assistant Professor at the University of Washington. She is the Director of the MIND group (Microbial Interactions with Nutrition and Development) and has a research focus on optimizing neonatal growth and intestinal health in vulnerable infants. The NEC Society is honored to provide support for her project titled, The Human Milk Lipidome and Virome: A Case-Control Study of NEC in Very Preterm Infants.
The NEC Society presented the Early Career Faculty Research Award at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting during the NEC Networking Session.
Through the support of this award, Dr. Strobel will embark on a research project that aims to identify specific human milk compositional differences that influence NEC risk.
It is widely known that mother’s own milk (MOM) offers the best protection against NEC, and when MOM is not readily available, pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) is the next best option. However, human milk tragically does not eliminate the risk of NEC. Some babies who receive an exclusive human milk diet can still develop NEC.
As a neonatologist, human milk scientist, and a former NICU parent, Dr. Strobel is deeply committed to building a world without NEC by advancing research.
The NEC Society is grateful to Dr. Strobel for addressing the critical research gaps in the understanding of NEC and human milk.
Dr. Strobel previously received the NEC Symposium Research Award at the 2025 NEC Symposium in Chicago. She was a podium presenter who received a top score for her abstract, “Neurobehavioral Outcomes in Extremely Preterm Infants with Necrotizing Enterocolitis.” In addition to this recognition, Dr. Strobel is leading research exploring maternal milk microbial and cytokine composition.
At the NEC Society, we are committed to fostering the next generation of researchers and clinicians who are determined to build a world without NEC. Dr. Strobel exemplifies this mission through her expertise, scientific curiosity, and dedication to this field.
We are grateful for Dr. Strobel’s dedication to improving outcomes for babies and families affected by NEC.
Katie Strobel, MD, MS, participating in the NEC Symposium in Chicago.
