Erika C. Claud

Erika C. Claud is a Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine at The University of Chicago, specializing in Neonatology and Gastroenterology. Her research focuses on the microbiome's role in preterm infant health outcomes, particularly growth, neurodevelopment, and environmental influences in both clinical and home settings.

Education:

• Medical School, Pediatric Residency, and Neonatology Fellowship at Northwestern University Medical School/Children’s Memorial Hospital
• Research Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital
• Initial Faculty Appointment at Harvard Medical School

Her work examines how socioeconomic status (SES) and environmental factors affect infant microbiome succession, mediated through the microbiome's impact on neurodevelopment. She is affiliated with the Health Inequality (HI) Network and contributes to understanding biological mechanisms linking environment to developmental outcomes in vulnerable preterm populations.

Key Research Areas:

• Gut microbiota in preterm infants
• Environmental determinants of microbiome development
• SES and neurodevelopmental disparities
• Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) ecology
• Post-discharge home environment effects
• Long-term health outcomes in preterm infants