Brian Darlow trained at Cambridge University, elsewhere in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, with a spell in Papua New Guinea.
He returned to the department as Senior Lecturer in 1982 and was appointed to the Chair of Paediatrics in 2001. From 2007 until 2018 Brian held the Cure Kids Chair of Paediatric Research at the University of Otago, Christchurch.
Through most of his career he has worked as a clinical neonatologist and his research interests include free radical disease in the newborn, the epidemiology and outcome of complications of prematurity, and neonatal networking.
Interests outside of medicine include ornithology and tramping.
Read about the NZ Very Low Birthweight study
Publications
Cameron, V. A., Jones, G. T., Horwood, L. J., Pilbrow, A. P., Martin, J., Frampton, C., Ip, W. T., Troughton, R. W., Greer, C., Yang, J., Epton, M. J., Harris, S. L., & Darlow, B. A. (2023). DNA methylation patterns at birth predict health outcomes in young adults born very low birthweight. Clinical Epigenetics, 15, 47. doi: 10.1186/s13148-023-01463-3
Bolbocean, C., van der Pal, S., van Buuren, S., Anderson, P. J., Bartmann, P., Baumann, N., … Darlow, B. A., … Horwood, J., … Woodward, L., … Petrou, S. (2023). Health-related quality-of-life outcomes of very preterm or very low birth weight adults: Evidence from an individual participant data meta-analysis. Pharmacoeconomics, 41, 93-105. doi: 10.1007/s40273-022-01201-2
Kim, H. M., Horwood, L. J., Harris, S. L., Bora, S., Darlow, B. A., & Woodward, L. J. (2022). Self-reported executive function problems in adults born very low birthweight. Paediatric & Perinatal Epidemiology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/ppe.12891
Darlow, B. A., Harris, S. L., & Horwood, L. J. (2022). Little evidence for long-term harm from antenatal corticosteroids in a population-based very low birthweight young adult cohort. Paediatric & Perinatal Epidemiology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/ppe.12886
Yang, J., Epton, M. J., Harris, S. L., Horwood, J., Kingsford, R. A., Troughton, R., Greer, C., & Darlow, B. A. (2022). Reduced exercise capacity in adults born at very low birth weight: A population-based cohort study. American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, 205, 88-98. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202103-0755OC
Darlow, B. (2012). The newborn infant: Stabilization and examination. In M. South & D. Isaacs (Eds.), Practical paediatrics. (7th ed.) (pp. 328-340). Edinburgh, UK: Churchill Livingstone.
Chapter in Book - Research
Begg, E. J., Atkinson, H. C., & Darlow, B. A. (1997). Guide to drug usage in lactation. In T. M. Speight & N. H. G. Holford (Eds.), Avery's Drug Treatment: a Guide to the Properties, Choice, Therapeutic Use and Economic Value of Drugs in Disease Management, 4th edition. (pp. 1701-1723). Auckland: Adis Press.
Chapter in Book - Research
Darlow, B. (2013). Neonatal Health. In P. Joyce, G. Nicholls, K. Thomas & T. Wilkinson (Eds.), The Christchurch experience: 40 years of research and teaching. (pp. 88-95). Christchurch, New Zealand: University of Otago.
Chapter in Book - Other
Bolbocean, C., van der Pal, S., van Buuren, S., Anderson, P. J., Bartmann, P., Baumann, N., … Darlow, B. A., … Horwood, J., … Woodward, L., … Petrou, S. (2023). Health-related quality-of-life outcomes of very preterm or very low birth weight adults: Evidence from an individual participant data meta-analysis. Pharmacoeconomics, 41, 93-105. doi: 10.1007/s40273-022-01201-2
Journal - Research Article
Cameron, V. A., Jones, G. T., Horwood, L. J., Pilbrow, A. P., Martin, J., Frampton, C., Ip, W. T., Troughton, R. W., Greer, C., Yang, J., Epton, M. J., Harris, S. L., & Darlow, B. A. (2023). DNA methylation patterns at birth predict health outcomes in young adults born very low birthweight. Clinical Epigenetics, 15, 47. doi: 10.1186/s13148-023-01463-3
Journal - Research Article
Chevallier, M., Debillon, T., Darlow, B. A., Synnes, A. R., Pierrat, V., Hurrion, E., … Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network (ANZNN), including Austin, N., Lynn, A., Edmonds, L., … Etude Epidémiologique sur les Petits Ages Gestationnels (EPIPAGE-2) Investigators. (2022). Mortality and significant neurosensory impairment in preterm infants: An international comparison. Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal & Neonatal Edition, 107, F317-F323. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2021-322288
Journal - Research Article
Darlow, B. A., Harris, S. L., & Horwood, L. J. (2022). Little evidence for long-term harm from antenatal corticosteroids in a population-based very low birthweight young adult cohort. Paediatric & Perinatal Epidemiology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/ppe.12886
Journal - Research Article
Kim, H. M., Horwood, L. J., Harris, S. L., Bora, S., Darlow, B. A., & Woodward, L. J. (2022). Self-reported executive function problems in adults born very low birthweight. Paediatric & Perinatal Epidemiology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/ppe.12891
Journal - Research Article
McLeod, G. F. H., Horwood, L. J., Darlow, B. A., Boden, J. M., Martin, J., Spittlehouse, J. K., Carter, F. A., Jordan, J., Porter, R., Bell, C., Douglas, K., … McIntosh, V. V. W., … Vierck, E. (2022). Recruitment and retention of participants in longitudinal studies after a natural disaster. Longitudinal & Life Course Studies, 13(2), 287-306. doi: 10.1332/175795921X16168462584238
Journal - Research Article
Robinson, R., Girchenko, P., Pulakka, A., Heinonen, K., Lähdepuro, A., Lahti-Pulkkinen, M., … Darlow, B. A., … Horwood, L. J., … Räikkönen, K. (2022). ADHD symptoms and diagnosis in adult preterms: Systematic review, IPD meta-analysis, and register-linkage study. Pediatric Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1038/s41390-021-01929-1
Journal - Research Article
Willis, J., Cunningham-Tisdall, C., Griffin, C., Scott, R., Darlow, B. A., Owens, N., Ferguson, J., Mackenzie, K., Williman, J., & de Bock, M. (2022). Type 1 diabetes diagnosed before age 15 years in Canterbury, New Zealand: A fifty year record of increasing incidence. Pediatric Diabetes, 23, 301-309. doi: 10.1111/pedi.13305
Journal - Research Article
Woodward, L. J., Horwood, L. J., Darlow, B. A., & Bora, S. (2022). Visuospatial working memory of children and adults born very preterm and/or very low birth weight. Pediatric Research, 91, 1436-1444. doi: 10.1038/s41390-021-01869-w
Journal - Research Article
Yang, J., Epton, M. J., Harris, S. L., Horwood, J., Kingsford, R. A., Troughton, R., Greer, C., & Darlow, B. A. (2022). Reduced exercise capacity in adults born at very low birth weight: A population-based cohort study. American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, 205, 88-98. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202103-0755OC
Journal - Research Article
Darlow, B. A., Horwood, J., Dhakal, B., Harris, S. L., McKelvey, V. A., Elliott, J. M., Yang, J., & Mackay, R. J. (2021). Biomarkers of ageing in New Zealand VLBW young adults and controls. Pediatric Research, 89, 533-539. doi: 10.1038/s41390-020-0882-x
Journal - Research Article
Doyle, L. W., & Darlow, B. A. (2021). The changing face of neonatal intensive care for infants born extremely preterm (<28 weeks’ gestation) [Review]. Seminars in Perinatology, 45, 151476. doi: 10.1016/j.semperi.2021.151476
Journal - Research Article
Eves, R., Mendonça, M., Baumann, N., Ni, Y., Darlow, B. A., Horwood, J., Woodward, L. J., … Wolke, D. (2021). Association of very preterm birth or very low birth weight with intelligence in adulthood: An individual participant data meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics, 175(8), e211058. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.1058
Journal - Research Article
Gagliardi, L., Rusconi, F., Reichman, B., Adams, M., Modi, N., Lehtonen, L., … Darlow, B. A., … the International Network for Evaluation of Outcomes (iNeo) of Neonates Investigators. (2021). Neonatal outcomes of extremely preterm twins by sex pairing: An international cohort study. Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal & Neonatal Edition, 106(1), F17-F24. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2020-318832
Journal - Research Article
Greer, C., Harris, S. L., Troughton, R., Adamson, P. D., Horwood, J., Frampton, C., & Darlow, B. A. (2021). Right ventricular structure and function in young adults born preterm at very low birth weight. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(21), 4864. doi: 10.3390/jcm10214864
Journal - Research Article
Lui, K., Vento, M., Modi, N., Kusuda, S., Lehtonen, L., Håkansson, S., … on behalf of the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes of Neonates (iNeo) Investigators and Collaborators, including Darlow, B. A., Austin, N., & Lynn, A. (2021). Inter-center variability in neonatal outcomes of preterm infants: A longitudinal evaluation of 298 neonatal units in 11 countries. Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 26, 101196. doi: 10.1016/j.siny.2021.101196
Journal - Research Article
McKelvey, V., Darlow, B. A., Horwood, L. J., & Martin, J. (2021). Dental status of young adults born with very low birthweight: A national cohort study. Community Dentistry & Oral Epidemiology, 49, 240-248. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12595
Journal - Research Article
Seaton, S. E., Draper, E. S., Adams, M., Kusuda, S., Håkansson, S., Helenius, K., … Darlow, B. A., … for the UK Neonatal Collaborative, on behalf of the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes of Neonates (iNeo) Investigators. (2021). Variations in neonatal length of stay of extremely preterm babies: An international comparison between iNeo networks. Journal of Pediatrics, 233, 26-32.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.02.015
Journal - Research Article
Darlow, B. A., Woodward, L. J., Levin, K. J., Melzer, T., & Horwood, L. J. (2020). Perinatal and childhood predictors of general cognitive outcome at 28 years in a very-low-birthweight national cohort. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 62, 1423-1428. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.14649
Journal - Research Article
Harris, S. L., Bray, H., Troughton, R., Elliott, J., Frampton, C., Horwood, J., & Darlow, B. A. (2020). Cardiovascular outcomes in young adulthood in a population-based very low birth weight cohort. Journal of Pediatrics, 225, 74-79.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.06.023
Journal - Research Article
Helenius, K., Morisaki, N., Kusuda, S., Shah, P. S., Norman, M., Lehtonen, L., … Darlow, B. A., … on behalf of the International Network for Evaluation of Outcomes of neonates (iNeo), including Austin, N., Lynn, A., Edmonds, L., Broadbent, R., & Richardson, V. (2020). Survey shows marked variations in approaches to redirection of care for critically ill very preterm infants in 11 countries. Acta Paediatrica, 109, 1338-1345. doi: 10.1111/apa.15069
Journal - Research Article
Lehtonen, L., Lee, S. K., Kusuda, S., Lui, K., Norman, M., Bassler, D., … Darlow, B. A., … on behalf of the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes of Neonates (iNeo). (2020). Family rooms in neonatal intensive care units and neonatal outcomes: An international survey and linked cohort study. Journal of Pediatrics, 226, 112-117.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.06.009
Journal - Research Article
Norman, M., Håkansson, S., Kusuda, S., Vento, M., Lehtonen, L., Reichman, B., Darlow, B. A., … on behalf of the International Network for Evaluation of Outcomes in Neonates (iNeo) Investigators, including Edmonds, L. (2020). Neonatal outcomes in very preterm infants with severe congenital heart defects: An international cohort study. Journal of the American Heart Association, 9(5), 1-14. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.119.015369
Journal - Research Article
Plummer, E. L., Chebar Lozinsky, A., Tobin, J. M., Uebergang, J. B., Axelrad, C., Garland, S. M., … for the ProPrems Study Group, including Austin, N. C., & Darlow, B. A. (2020). Postnatal probiotics and allergic disease in very preterm infants: Sub-study to the ProPrems randomized trial. Allergy, 75, 127-136. doi: 10.1111/all.14088
Journal - Research Article
Porter, J. A., MacKenzie, K. E., Darlow, B. A., Pearson, J. F., & Day, A. S. (2020). A questionnaire-based assessment of gastrointestinal symptoms in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Translational Pediatrics, 9(6), 743-749. doi: 10.21037/tp-20-139
Journal - Research Article
Tarnow-Mordi, W. O., Abdel-Latif, M. E., Martin, A., Pammi, M., Robledo, K., Manzoni, P., … Darlow, B. A., … on behalf of the LIFT collaborators. (2020). The effect of lactoferrin supplementation on death or major morbidity in very low birthweight infants (LIFT): A multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 4(6), 444-454. doi: 10.1016/s2352-4642(20)30093-6
Journal - Research Article
Yang, J., Kingsford, R. A., Horwood, J., Epton, M. J., Swanney, M. P., Stanton, J., & Darlow, B. A. (2020). Lung function of adults born at very low birth weight. Pediatrics, 145(2), e20192359. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-2359
Journal - Research Article
Adams, M., Bassler, D., Darlow, B. A., Lui, K., Reichman, B., Hakansson, S., … on behalf of the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes (iNeo) of Neonates, including Lynn, A., & Broadbent, R. (2019). Preventive strategies and factors associated with surgically treated necrotising enterocolitis in extremely preterm infants: An international unit survey linked with retrospective cohort data analysis. BMJ Open, 9, e031086. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031086
Journal - Research Article
Darlow, B. A., & Husain, S. (2019). Primary prevention of ROP and the oxygen saturation targeting trials. Seminars in Perinatology, 43, 333-340. doi: 10.1053/j.semperi.2019.05.004
Journal - Research Article
Darlow, B. A., Martin, J., & Horwood, L. J. (2019). Metabolic syndrome in very low birth weight young adults and controls: The New Zealand 1986 VLBW Study. Journal of Pediatrics, 206, 128-133.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.10.060
Journal - Research Article
Darlow, B. A., Martin, J., & Horwood, L. J. (2019). Unrecognised and unmet physical health problems in a national cohort of very low birthweight young adults and controls. Journal of Primary Health Care, 11(1), 32-38. doi: 10.1071/HC18044
Journal - Research Article
Lui, K., Lee, S. K., Kusuda, S., Adams, M., Vento, M., Reichman, B., Darlow, B. A., … on behalf of the International Network for Evaluation of Outcomes (iNeo) of neonates Investigators, including Austin, N., Lynn, A., & Edmonds, L. (2019). Trends in outcomes for neonates born very preterm and very low birth weight in 11 high-income countries. Journal of Pediatrics, 215, 32-14.e14. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.08.020
Journal - Research Article
Pascoe, M. J., Melzer, T. R., Horwood, L. J., Woodward, L. J., & Darlow, B. A. (2019). Altered grey matter volume, perfusion and white matter integrity in very low birthweight adults. NeuroImage: Clinical, 22, 101780. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101780
Journal - Research Article
Porter, J. A., MacKenzie, K. E., Darlow, B. A., Butler, R., & Day, A. S. (2019). Gastric emptying in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A pilot study. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 55, 416-420. doi: 10.1111/jpc.14215
Journal - Research Article
Shah, P. S., Lui, K., Reichman, B., Norman, M., Kusuda, S., Lehtonen, L., … Darlow, B. A., … on behalf of the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes (iNeo) of Neonates. (2019). The International Network for Evaluating Outcomes (iNeo) of neonates: Evolution, progress and opportunities. Translational Pediatrics, 8(3), 170-181. doi: 10.21037/tp.2019.07.06
Journal - Research Article
Shahroor, M., Lehtonen, L., Lee, S. K., Håkansson, S., Vento, M., Darlow, B. A., … on behalf of the International Network for Evaluation of Outcomes (iNeo) of neonates Investigators, including . (2019). Unit-level variations in healthcare professionals' availability for preterm neonates <29 weeks' gestation: An international survey. Neonatology, 116, 347-355. doi: 10.1159/000501801
Journal - Research Article
Smith, L. E. H., Hellström, A., Stahl, A., Fielder, A., Chambers, W., Moseley, J., … Darlow, B. A., … for the Retinopathy of Prematurity Workgroup of the International Neonatal Consortium. (2019). Development of a retinopathy of prematurity activity scale and clinical outcome measures for use in clinical trials [Special communication]. JAMA Ophthalmology, 137(3), 305-311. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2018.5984
Journal - Research Article
Askie, L. M., Darlow, B. A., Finer, N., Schmidt, B., Stenson, B., Tarnow-Mordi, W., … for the Neonatal Oxygenation Prospective Meta-analysis (NeOProM) Collaboration. (2018). Association between oxygen saturation targeting and death or disability in extremely preterm infants in the Neonatal Oxygenation Prospective Meta-analysis Collaboration. JAMA, 319(21), 2190-2201. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.5725
Journal - Research Article
Beltempo, M., Isayama, T., Vento, M., Lui, K., Kusuda, S., Lehtonen, L., … Darlow, B. A., … on behalf of the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes (iNeo) of Neonates. (2018). Respiratory management of extremely preterm infants: An international survey. Neonatology, 114(1), 28-36. doi: 10.1159/000487987
Journal - Research Article
Chan-Ling, T., Gole, G. A., Quinn, G. E., Adamson, S. J., & Darlow, B. A. (2018). Pathophysiology, screening and treatment of ROP: A multi-disciplinary perspective. Progress in Retinal & Eye Research, 62, 77-119. doi: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2017.09.002
Journal - Research Article
Darlow, B. A., Elder, M. J., Kimber, B., Martin, J., & Horwood, L. J. (2018). Vision in former very low birthweight young adults with and without retinopathy of prematurity compared with term born controls: The NZ 1986 VLBW follow-up study. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 102, 1041-1046. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2017-311345
Journal - Research Article
Darlow, B. A., Vento, M., Beltempo, M., Lehtonen, L., Håkansson, S., Reichman, B., … on behalf of the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes (iNeo) of Neonates. (2018). Variations in oxygen saturation targeting, and retinopathy of prematurity screening and treatment criteria in neonatal intensive care units: An international survey. Neonatology, 114(4), 323-331. doi: 10.1159/000490372
Journal - Research Article
Fleck, B. W., Williams, C., Juszczak, E., Cocker, K., Stenson, B. J., Darlow, B. A., … for the BOOST II Retinal Image Digital Analysis (RIDA) Group. (2018). An international comparison of retinopathy of prematurity grading performance within the Benefits of Oxygen Saturation Targeting II trials. Eye, 32, 74-80. doi: 10.1038/eye.2017.150
Journal - Research Article
Prickett, T. C. R., Darlow, B. A., Troughton, R. W., Cameron, V. A., Elliott, J. M., Martin, J., Horwood, L. J., & Espiner, E. A. (2018). New insights into cardiac and vascular natriuretic peptides: Findings from young adults born with very low birth weight. Clinical Chemistry, 64(2), 363-373. doi: 10.1373/clinchem.2017.280354
Journal - Research Article
Shah, P. S., Kusuda, S., Håkansson, S., Reichman, B., Lui, K., Lehtonen, L., … Darlow, B. A., … on behalf of the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes (iNeo) of Neonates Investigators. (2018). Neonatal outcomes of very preterm or very low birth weight triplets. Pediatrics, 142(6), e20181938. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-1938
Journal - Research Article
Askie, L. M., Darlow, B. A., Davis, P. G., Finer, N., Stenson, B., Vento, M., & Whyte, R. (2017). Effects of targeting lower versus higher arterial oxygen saturations on death or disability in preterm infants (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 4, CD011190. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011190.pub2
Journal - Research Article
Darlow, B. A., Lui, K., Kusuda, S., Reichman, B., Håkansson, S., Bassler, D., … on behalf of the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes of Neonates (iNeo). (2017). International variations and trends in the treatment for retinopathy of prematurity. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 101(10), 1399-1404. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2016-310041
Journal - Research Article