Luc Brion, M.D.
Professor

Download Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Luc P Brion has published more than 130 original manuscripts and 12 chapters. During his training in pediatrics and in neonatology, he participated and conducted studies on growth, nutrition and assessment of renal function in neonates and children. As Faculty at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York (AECOM), he was funded for years by the NIH, American Heart Association, Genentech Foundation, and Pharmacia for basic sciences research in developmental nephrology, specifically renal acid secretion, carbonic anhydrase, pathophysiological effects of acidosis and growth.

Dr. Brion’s research focus is clinical research assessing neonatal mortality and morbidity and evidence-based medicine. He is a member of the Neonatal Review Group of the Cochrane Collaboration. He has participated in 5 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in preterm infants. Dr. Brion has served on the IRB at AECOM. He has participated in several multi-center research studies. Since 2009, he has been the University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Alternate PI for the NICHD Eunice Kennedy Shriver Cooperative Multicenter Neonatal Research Network (NRN). Dr. Brion serves on the subcommittee on protection of human subjects of the NRN. Dr. Brion's current research interest is focused on (1) improving nutrition and growth in very preterm and very low birth weight infants and (2) using evidence-based medicine to improve morbidity and morbidity in neonates. He has obtained funding from Children’s Medical Center Foundation at Dallas and from the Gerber Foundation. His research and quality improvement projects address the relationship between neonatal nutrition, growth, neurodevelopment and signs suggestive of metabolic syndrome in high-risk preterm infants.

Valid serial length measurements in preterm infants were shown to permit characterization of growth patterns. Adjustable feedings plus accurate serial length measurements decreased weight-length disproportion at discharge in very preterm infants. In preterm infants fed human milk, milk fortification can be adjusted by 1) optimization, based on growth rate and serum analyses, or 2) individualization, based on daily human milk nutrient analysis. Randomized allocation to adjusting macronutrients based on breast milk analysis in preterm neonates did not improve weight gain, linear growth or weight/length disproportion at 36 weeks postmentrual age or discharge. Long-term follow-up of these infants is now in process to assess the development of signs of metabolic syndrome and neurodevelopment.

A quality improvement project is in progress at Parkland, aiming at reducing necrotizing enterocolitis stage II or greater (Bell classification) among high-risk neonates, i.e., those born at <1500 gram or < 33 weeks' gestional age.

Among extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGANs) a serum Zinc concentration was obtained in 52 with insufficient linear growth (17%). Zinc deficiency was diagnosed in 33% small for GA (SGA) compared to 13% non-SGA infants (P=0.01). Zinc supplementation for >2 weeks improved head growth (but not weight gain on linear growth) to discharge or 50 weeks postmenstrual age in infants with Zinc deficiency. 

Dr. Brion was Director of the Fellowship Training Program in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at AECOM in 1997-2006 and Director of the Fellowship Training Program in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at UTSW in 2007-2019. He has been research mentor for more than 25 trainees. 

In 2013 Dr. Brion took the Clinical Safety and Efficacy Course at UTSW. He supervises a team of research nurses who maintain the Divisional extensive neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) clinical databases at Parkland and Children’s Medical Center and databases for the Vermont Oxford Neonatal Network (VON) and Children’s Hospital Network Database (CHND). He compiles and presents an Annual Report of mortality and morbidity of neonates admitted to Parkland NICU and compares them to those of the NICHD NRN, VON and national data. He has used the databases for quality improvement and for research.

Medical School

Universite Libre de Bruxelles (1976)

Residency

Hopital Universitaire Saint-Pierre (1979), Pediatrics

Residency

Institut Edith Cavell (1981), Pediatrics

Fellowship

Hospital for Sick Children (1982), Neonatal-perinatal Medicine

Fellowship

Institut Edith Cavell (1982), Neonatal-perinatal Medicine

Fellowship

Cliniques Universitaires (1983), Neonatal-perinatal Medicine

Fellowship

Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center (1985), Neonatal-perinatal Medicine

Residency

Montefiore Medical Center/ Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1986), Pediatrics

• Neonatal mortality/morbidity
• Neonatal nutrition and gorwth
• Renal disease

Featured Publications

Venovenous versus venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation among infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: is there a difference in outcome?

Agarwal P, Natarajan G, Sullivan K, Rao R, Rintoul N, Zaniletti I, Keene S, Mietzsch U, Massaro AN, Billimoria Z, Dirnberger D, Hamrick S, Seabrook RB, Weems MF, Cleary JP, Gray BW, DiGeronimo R, J Perinatol 2021 May

Correction: Role of zinc in neonatal growth and brain growth: review and scoping review.

Brion LP, Heyne R, Lair CS, Pediatr Res 2021 Mar

Neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants enrolled in myo-inositol randomized controlled trial.

Adams-Chapman I, Watterberg KL, Nolen TL, Hirsch S, Cole CA, Cotten CM, Oh W, Poindexter BB, Zaterka-Baxter KM, Das A, Lacy CB, Scorsone AM, Duncan AF, DeMauro SB, Goldstein RF, Colaizy TT, Wilson-Costello DE, Purdy IB, Hintz SR, Heyne RJ, Myers GJ, Fuller J, Merhar S, Harmon HM, Peralta-Carcelen M, Kilbride HW, Maitre NL, Vohr BR, Natarajan G, Mintz-Hittner H, Quinn GE, Wallace DK, Olson RJ, Orge FH, Tsui I, Gaynon M, Hutchinson AK, He YG, Winter TW, Yang MB, Haider KM, Cogen MS, Hug D, Bremer DL, Donahue JP, Lucas WR, Phelps DL, Higgins RD, J Perinatol 2021 Mar

Umbilical Cord Milking versus Delayed Cord Clamping and Associations with In-Hospital Outcomes among Extremely Premature Infants.

Kumbhat N, Eggleston B, Davis AS, DeMauro SB, Van Meurs KP, Foglia EE, Lakshminrusimha S, Walsh MC, Watterberg KL, Wyckoff MH, Das A, Handley SC, J Pediatr 2021 Jan

Association of antenatal steroids with neonatal mortality and morbidity in preterm infants born to mothers with diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

Weydig HM, Rosenfeld CR, Jaleel MA, Burchfield PJ, Frost MS, Brion LP. J Perinatol 2021 May 25 doi: 10.1038/s41372-021-01090-x. Online ahead of print. PMID: 34035455

Quality Improvement Project Designed to Reduce Disproportionate Growth in Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates: Cognitive Neurodevelopmental Outcome at 18-41 Months

Jordan Reis, Kristine Tolentino-Plata, Roy Heyne, Larry Brown, Charles Rosenfeld, Maria Caraig, Patti Burchfield, and Luc Brion J Perinatol 2021

Re: Zinc Levels inre: Neonatal Life Influence Long-Term Neurodevelopment.

Brion LP, Heyne R, Lair CS. J Perinatol 2021

Transient hypoglycemia and test performance in at-risk newborns.

ElHassan NO, Shaefer EW, Gonzalez B, Nienaber T, Brion LP, Kaiser JR. Am J Perinatology 2021

Higher or Lower Hemoglobin Transfusion Thresholds for Preterm Infants.

Kirpalani H, Bell EF, Hintz SR, Tan S, Schmidt B, Chaudhary AS, Johnson KJ, Crawford MM, Newman JE, Vohr BR, Carlo WA, D'Angio CT, Kennedy KA, Ohls RK, Poindexter BB, Schibler K, Whyte RK, Widness JA, Zupancic JAF, Wyckoff MH, Truog WE, Walsh MC, Chock VY, Laptook AR, Sokol GM, Yoder BA, Patel RM, Cotten CM, Carmen MF, Devaskar U, Chawla S, Seabrook R, Higgins RD, Das A, N Engl J Med 2020 Dec 383 27 2639-2651

Limitations of Conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Predictor of Death or Disability Following Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy in the Late Hypothermia Trial.

Laptook AR, Shankaran S, Barnes P, Rollins N, Do BT, Parikh NA, Hamrick S, Hintz SR, Tyson JE, Bell EF, Ambalavanan N, Goldberg RN, Pappas A, Huitema C, Pedroza C, Chaudhary AS, Hensman AM, Das A, Wyckoff M, Khan A, Walsh MC, Watterberg KL, Faix R, Truog W, Guillet R, Sokol GM, Poindexter BB, Higgins RD, J Pediatr 2020 Nov

 Featured Books

Clinical significance of developmental renal physiology. In Fetal and Neonatal Physiology

Brion LP, Satlin LM (1998). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.

Kidney and Urinary Tract. In Fanaroff AA, Martin RJ, eds. Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine.

Brion LP, Bernstein J, Spitzer A. (1997). St. Louis, MO: Mosby.

Renal disease. In MacDonald MG, Mullett MD, Seshia MMK. Avery's Neonatology: Pathophysiology and Management of the Newborn.

Nafday S, Brion LP, Benchimol C, Satlin LM, Flynn J, Edelmann CM Jr. (2004). Philadelphia, PA: JB Lippincott Company.

Renal disease. In MacDonald MG, Mullett MD, Seshia MMK, eds. Avery's Neonatology: Pathophysiology and Management of the Newborn

Nafday SM, Woda CB, Saland JM, Flynn JT, Askenzi D, Benchimol C, Brion LP. (2015). Philadelphia, PA: JB Lippincott Company.

Neonatal Jaundice. In Campbell DE, ed. Neonatology for Primary Care.

Kapadia VS, Brion LP. (2014). Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.

Neonatal jaundice in the term and near term infant. In TK McInerny, HM Adam, DE Campbell, DM Kamat, KJ Kelleher, eds. American Academy of Pediatrics Textbook of Pediatric Care.

Brion LP. (2009). Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.

Renal Disease. In MacDonald MG, ed. Neonatology: Pathophysiology and Management of the Newborn.

Brion LP, Satlin LM, Edelmann CM Jr. (1999). Philadelphia, PA: JB Lippincott Company.

Neonatal jaundice.. In Campbell DE. Neonatology for Primary Care

Johnson KA, Maple BB, Brion LP. (2019, in press). Elk Grove Village, IL, American Academy of Pediatrics

Renal disease.. In MacDonald MG, Mullett MD, Seshia MMK. Avery's Neonatology: Pathophysiology and Management of the Newborn.

Nafday SM, Woda CB, Saland JM, Flynn JT, Askenazi D, Benchimol C, Brion (2021). Philadelphia., JB Lippincott Company,

Neonatal Jaundice. In Neonatology for Primary Care

Johnson KA, Maple BB, Brion LP (2020). Elk Groove Village, IL, American Academy of Pediatrics

Neonatal jaundice. In AAP Textbook of Pediatric Care

Kapadia VS, Brion LP (2015). Elk Grove Village, IL, McInerny T, Adam HM, Campbell DE, Foy JM, Kamat, DM, and DeWitt TG. American Academy of Pediatrics.

Neonatal jaundice. In AAP Textbook of Pediatric Care

Kapadia VS, Brion LP (2015). Elk Grove Village, IL, McInerny T, Adam HM, Campbell DE, Foy JM, Kamat, DM, and DeWitt TG. American Academy of Pediatrics.

The use of plasma creatinine concentration for estimating glomerular filtration rate in infants, children and adolescents.. In Pediatric Clinics of North America

Schwartz GJ, Brion LP, Spitzer A. (1986). Phildelphia, PA, Elsevier

Carbonic anhydrases in the nervous system. In WR Chegwidden, ND Carter, YH Edwards. The carbonic anhydrases: New Horizons.

Cammer WB, Brion LP (2000). Basel, Switzerland, Birkhäuser Verlag

• Provider of the Month, Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, NICU, May 2019
  (2019)
• Elected to American Pediatric Society
  (2015)
• ‘Individualizing and Optimizing Nutrition to Prevent Metabolic Syndrome and To Improve Neurodevelopment in Preterm and Small for Gestational Age Infants’
  Gerber Foundation, National Grant (2015-2019)
• ‘Optimizing Individual Nutrition in Preterm Very Low Birth Weight Infants’
  Children’s Medical Center Clinical Advisory Committee (CCRAC) – Senior Investigator Research Award New Direction (2015-2017)
• Site Alternate PI, UTSW, Dallas
  National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Eunice Kennedy Shriver Cooperative Multicenter Neonatal Research Network: (2011-2021)
• Recognition by program directors for special contribution
  COGME, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY (2006)
• Listed in Top Doctors
  American Registry (2004-2005)
• Best Doctors in America
  (2003-2014)
• America's Registry of Outstanding Professionals
  (2002-2003)
• Listed
  America’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals (2002-2003)
• Listed in “Guide to America’s Pediatricians”
  Consumer’s Research Council of America (2002-2003)
• Listed
  Strathmore’s Who’s Who (2001-2003)
• New York Metro Area Top Doctors
  Castle Connolly Medical Ltd (2001-2005)
• Listed in 3rd & 4th Eds, How to Find the Best Doctors: New York Metro Area
  Castle Connolly Guide (1998-1999)
• Listed in ‘The Best Doctors in New York,’ Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine,
  New York Magazine (1998-2002)
• Grant-in-Aid: ‘Regulation of renal membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase in response to acidosis’
  American Heart Association (1997-1999)
• ‘Hormonal and cellular mechanisms of failure to thrive in acidotic mice’
  Pharmacia Inc (1997-1999)
• Hormonal mechanisms of growth failure in chronic acidosis
  Pharmacia (1996-1997)
• ‘Hormonal mechanisms of growth failure in chronic acidosis’
  Genentech Foundation for Growth and Development (1996-1998)
• Interdivisional Research Award (IRA), ‘Role of somatotropin in growth retardation associated with chronic metabolic acidosis’
  Department of Pediatrics, Montefiore Medical Center (1995-1997)
• “Molecular regulation of carbonic anhydrase IV isozymes’
  Department of Pediatrics Internal Grant, Montefiore Medical Center (1995-1997)
• Biomedical Research Grants & Crisis Support Grant
  Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1990-1996)
• Clinical Investigator Award: 'Regulation and development of renal acid-base transport'
  NIDDK (1990-1995)
• Scholarship Award in Pediatrics
  Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium (1976-1977)
• Prix Fleurice Mercier
  Université Libre de Bruxelles (1970-1971)

• American Pediatric Society (2014)
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American Medical Association
• Society of Pediatric Research