Gabriel Altit

Gabriel Altit is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McGill University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. He serves as a Scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), where he is affiliated with both the Child Health and Human Development Program and the Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE). Dr. Altit is a neonatologist and pediatrician specializing in echocardiography, with particular expertise in neonatal hemodynamics and cardiovascular physiology.

Education:

• MDCM from McGill University
• Pediatrics Residency at CHU Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal
• Neonatology Residency at CHU Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal
• Neonatal Echocardiography Research at Stanford University
• MSc in Epidemiology from McGill University (2017-2020)

Dr. Altit's research primarily focuses on neonatal cardiovascular physiology, with special emphasis on how heart function impacts newborn health in various conditions. His work centers on the use of echocardiography for live evaluation of the heart, particularly in premature newborns and those with congenital heart or lung malformations. He has developed expertise in analyzing heart muscle deformation using specialized software. His research spans from the immediate post-natal period through pediatric and adolescent growth into adulthood, creating a continuum of care for high-risk patients.

Analysis of Dr. Altit's recent publications reveals a strong focus on neonatal hemodynamics, particularly in high-risk populations including preterm infants, those with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, and congenital heart defects. His work demonstrates increasing sophistication in hemodynamic monitoring techniques, with growing emphasis on multimodal assessment including echocardiography, near-infrared spectroscopy, and advanced imaging. There is a clear trajectory toward translational research with clinical applications, particularly in optimizing management of pulmonary hypertension and improving outcomes in bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Dr. Altit founded and directs the NeoCardioLab (www.neocardiolab.com), an internationally recognized platform providing educational resources, a website, and mobile applications used daily by the global TnECHO community. He also launched and directs McGill's fellowship program in neonatal hemodynamics, the only Royal College-accredited program of its kind in Quebec.

Professional Activities:

• Serves on the Fetus and Newborn Committee of the Canadian Paediatric Society
• Co-authors national position statements
• Acts as expert advisor to INESSS on neonatal hyperbilirubinemia
• Director of McGill's Royal College-accredited fellowship program in neonatal hemodynamics

Dr. Altit's research has been supported by numerous organizations including the American Thoracic Society, the Pediatric Research Foundation, CIHR, the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie, and the Fondation Pour Enfants Seulement. His work has established him as a leader in neonatal cardiovascular research, with particular expertise in echocardiography and hemodynamic assessment of high-risk newborns.

As principal investigator of the NeoCardio Lab, Dr. Altit leads a research team focused on clinical and epidemiological neonatal cardiovascular research. The lab's work includes developing resources for targeted neonatal echocardiography, congenital heart defects, fetal echocardiography, point-of-care ultrasound, and near-infrared spectroscopy. The lab has received equipment support from the Just For Kids Foundation, including a state-of-the-art echocardiography machine with 2D and 3D capabilities and advanced analysis software.