David Hackam

David J. Hackam, M.D., Ph.D., is the Garrett Family Professor of Pediatric Surgery at the Johns Hopkins University, and Pediatric Surgeon-in-Chief and co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Dr. Hackam’s clinical practice focuses on complex neonatal surgery. His laboratory is focused on unraveling the molecular mechanisms of necrotizing enterocolitis - which remains the leading cause of death from gastrointestinal disease in premature infants. Recent studies have focused on understanding the mechanisms of NEC-associated cognitive impairment, which we have successfully reversed in preclinical models. Dr. Hackam’s team have optimized techniques of intestinal stem cell isolation and culture, and are working with tissue engineers and chemists towards the development of an artificial intestine, which has been tested in large and small pre-clinical models. Dr. Hackam’s work has led to the filing of several international patents, and is funded by the National Institutes of Health as well as several industry collaborations.