Dr. Misty Good is the Division Chief of Neonatology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A distinguished neonatologist-scientist, Dr. Good is internationally-recognized for her groundbreaking research on necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a devastating intestinal disease affecting premature infants. Her laboratory is at the forefront of NEC research, employing a comprehensive bench-to-bedside approach that integrates innovative pre-clinical and translational studies.

Dr. Good’s research focuses on elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving NEC, with an emphasis on the signaling pathways and immune cell responses involved. Her team utilizes a humanized neonatal mouse model of NEC to explore ways to modulate immune responses, promote epithelial and stem cell regeneration, and influence early microbial colonization. She also leads a multi-institutional NEC Biorepository, comprising ten centers nationwide, which is critical for identifying molecular biomarkers of NEC and gaining deeper insights into its pathophysiology in human infants.

Among her innovations, Dr. Good developed a premature infant Intestine-on-a-Chip model to study NEC, facilitating a personalized medicine approach to testing new therapeutics. This model, highlighted in JCI Insight, represents a significant advance in NEC research. Her lab’s long-term goal is preventing pro-inflammatory NEC responses through dietary modifications or targeted therapies. Notably, her team recently identified and patented a novel immunotherapeutic for NEC, published in Cell Reports Medicine, poised to transform care for at-risk premature infants.

Dr. Good has authored 110 publications and holds prestigious grants, including an NIDDK DP1 NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, three R01s, and a Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Award. Her commitment to mentoring future physician-scientists is evident in her role as Co-Program Director of UNC’s Pediatric Physician Scientist Training Program and through her AAP grant to foster physician-scientists. Dr. Good’s research, leadership, and mentorship continue to make significant contributions to neonatology, advancing the quest to cure NEC and improve outcomes for preterm infants.