Clinical Interests: To improve neurological outcomes of neonates by refining current methodologies and exploring new approaches of neuroprotection.  

Scholarly Focus: Dr. Kolnik’s research focus includes strategies to improve neurological outcomes of neonates that result from a variety of neurological injuries including intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). These strategies include new potential therapeutic agents such as Vitamin E and caffeine for HIE and environmental/clinical care strategies for prevention of ICH.  She uses non-invasive monitoring with point of care ultrasound (POCUS) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRs) to investigate both injury and mechanisms to prevent or mitigate injury.

Research Funding:

2019‐2021 Vitamin E ability to augment inflammatory and oxidative stress in response to Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation (OGD) in a Ferret Organotypic Brain Slice Model Neonatal Bioresearch Fund, University of Washington. Role: PI. Total Award: $6,000.

2022-2024    UW CoMotion Gap Fund Cerebral Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Neonates; Role: PI Total Grant: $50,000

2023-2028                  R01: NIH Research Grant Combinatorial Neuroprotective Strategies for Preterm Brain Injury.  Role: Co-Investigator.  Total Grant: $3,606,506

Administration/Education Roles: Dr. Kolnik is involved in a variety of groups focused on her clinical interests and scholarly work that include Seattle Children’s POCUS group, Seattle Children’s NeuroNICU, Brain Research Advancement in Neonatology (BRAIN) Team, UW Extremely Preterm Program, and multiple QI groups.  She also spends time teaching residents, creating curriculum including AAP flipped classroom for HIE, in addition to mentoring a variety of students from undergraduates to medical students. Dr. Kolnik is also the POCUS Clinical and Educational Lead for the division.