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Emeritus Professor Brian A. Darlow

Brian DarlowMA BChir MA MD(Camb) FRCP FRACP FRCPCH

Email brian.darlow@otago.ac.nz

Tel +64 3 372 6735

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

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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

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