Chintan K. Gandhi

Chintan K. Gandhi, MD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine. He joined Penn State Health Children's Hospital in 2018 and maintains an active clinical practice treating conditions including respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis, and other neonatal complications.

Dr. Gandhi's educational background includes:

• Medical School: The Maharaja Sayajirao Univ. of Baroda (2008)
• Residency: Pediatrics, St Peters Medical Center (New Jersey) (2015)
• Fellowship: Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Michigan State University (East Lansing) (2018)

His research focuses on understanding the impact of surfactant protein-A genetic variants on pulmonary diseases, with particular emphasis on respiratory syncytial virus pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions, and innate immune responses. Dr. Gandhi has established a neonatal transgenic mouse model of RSV infection carrying SP-A genetic variants to study disease mechanisms. His work contributes to Sustainable Development Goals related to good health and well-being.

Analysis of Dr. Gandhi's recent publications reveals a consistent research trajectory centered on genetic factors in neonatal respiratory outcomes, with increasing focus on the intersection of genetics, viral infections, and environmental factors. His work spans basic science investigations of SP-A variants through clinical applications in neonatal care.

Professional recognition includes:

• Young Investigator Travel Award (2017, 2018)
• Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching (2024)

Dr. Gandhi serves as Principal Investigator for an active National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute project (2023-2025) studying surfactant protein-A genetic variants and sex in neonatal RSV infection pathogenesis. He also acts as site principal investigator for the NIH-funded NICU Antibiotics and Outcomes (NANO) clinical trial. His research has been continuously funded through an NIH KO8 grant and various foundations.

His academic work is supported by a collaborative network spanning multiple institutions, with research outputs showing increasing publication rates and citation impact, including several high-impact papers in 2024-2025 addressing contemporary challenges in neonatal medicine including pandemic impacts on lactation services and air pollution effects on newborn respiratory health.