Noninvasive Pediatric Pulmonary Evaluation Lab
Innovating Noninvasive Approaches to Pediatric Lung Evaluation
The Noninvasive Pulmonary Evaluation Lab at Nemours Children’s in the Delaware Valley focuses on understanding how infants and children with complex medical conditions breathe. Many of the kids we see are too young or have conditions that limit their ability to participate in standard breathing tests. By creating gentler, developmentally appropriate methods, we make it possible to evaluate lung function in patients who may otherwise go unmeasured.
As part of the Center for Pediatric Lung Research, our work emphasizes capturing reliable respiratory information in real clinical environments. These approaches support evaluation across a wide range of care settings and help clinicians track changes in breathing over time. This leads to better treatment decisions for medically complex patients.
Over several decades, our team has advanced the science of noninvasive pulmonary evaluation. This expertise has contributed to a deeper understanding of respiratory patterns in newborns and children with complex needs.
The tools we develop and refine continue to support safer, more informed care for children whose needs fall outside the limits of traditional lung testing.
Principal Investigators
Thomas H. Shaffer, MSE, PhD
Director, Noninvasive Pulmonary Evaluation Lab
Robert Heinle, MD
Director, Pulmonary Function Testing Laboratory
Tariq Rahman, PhD
Associate Director
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR RESEARCH
- Research Interests
- Notable Projects
- Lab Services
- Grants & Support
Our Areas of Focus
Our work centers on studying lung function in infants and children with complex medical conditions. Our key areas of focus include:
Noninvasive Evaluation of Breathing in Infants & Medically Complex Children
We evaluate lung function in those who cannot perform standard pulmonary tests, including newborns, preterm infants, and patients with conditions that limit cooperation or mobility. Our approaches prioritize safety and comfort while capturing meaningful respiratory data in early life and complex care settings.
Respiratory Pathophysiology Across Development & Disease
By examining breathing mechanics across early development, we study how illness, growth, and clinical supports influence respiratory function. This work helps identify breathing patterns that may not be detected through conventional testing and supports more informed monitoring of vulnerable patients.
Tools & Methods That Guide Clinical Decisions
We develop and refine noninvasive technologies that measure airflow, chest wall motion, and gas exchange. These tools help clinicians interpret small changes in breathing and follow respiratory status over time across inpatient and outpatient settings.
Selected Research Highlights
- Noninvasive monitoring of breathing in premature infants, using respiratory inductive plethysmography (RIP) to assess work of breathing and respiratory mechanics during clinical support.
- Development of the pneuRIP™ system, a compact, wireless respiratory monitoring platform designed to support breathing assessment in settings where traditional pulmonary testing is not feasible.
- Application of noninvasive respiratory evaluation in neuromuscular and rare diseases, supporting longitudinal assessment of breathing patterns as conditions evolve.
- Automated breathing pattern analysis, including approaches that assist with identifying thoracoabdominal asynchrony and other markers of respiratory dysfunction.
Research Collaborations
We work in collaboration with clinical and research partners across Nemours and beyond. These relationships support method development and shared research questions and helps us apply noninvasive pulmonary evaluation in real-world care settings.
Internal collaborations include pulmonology, neonatology, critical care medicine, and orthopedics at Nemours. We also work closely with Tariq Rahman, PhD, and the Pediatric Engineering Research Lab.
In addition, we collaborate with academic partners such as Kelley Kovatis, MD at Thomas Jefferson University to advance respiratory evaluation in infants and children.
Services We Provide
Although we are a research lab, our methods directly support clinical care. We provide noninvasive pulmonary evaluation for children who cannot complete traditional assessments.
These services help clinicians evaluate breathing patterns, airflow, gas exchange, and chest wall movement in patients who need gentler, developmentally appropriate approaches.
Capabilities include:
- Pneumotachography, expired CO₂, and oxygen saturation monitoring.
- Respiratory Inductive Plethysmography (RIP).
- pneuRIP, a Nemours-developed motion-based respiratory monitoring system.
- Spirometry for children able to participate in limited testing.
Evaluations take place in the pulmonary function testing laboratory, neuromuscular and cerebral palsy care settings, and the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units (NICU and PICU).
Grant Funding
Our work is supported by federal funding that recognizes the clinical importance of noninvasive respiratory evaluation and enables continued innovation. Select awards include:
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Center for Pediatric Research (CPR) (2015-2022) |Shaffer, T. (PI/PD)
Delaware CTR Program Support (2013-2019) | Shaffer, T. (PI)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Airway Delivery of Fibrinolytic Therapy for ISALI (2014-2019) | Idell, S. (PI); Shaffer, T. (Co-PI)
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
R41 Grant (2022-2024) | Rahman, T. (PI)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
R21 Grant (2023-2026) | Rahman, T. (PI)
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
R21 Grant (2021-2024) | Yue, X. (PI); Shaffer, T. (Mentor/Co-PI)
Recognition & Awards
Researchers in the Noninvasive Pulmonary Evaluation Lab have been recognized for long-standing contributions to pediatric respiratory science and biomedical innovation. This includes leadership in federally funded research programs and participation in national scientific societies.
Research in Context
Our lab contributes to research that informs pediatric care and connects to broader areas of scientific study at Nemours.
Center for Pediatric Lung Research
DELAWARE VALLEY
Our center improves pediatric respiratory care by turning scientific discoveries into innovative diagnostics and research.
Critical Care Research
RESEARCH AREA
Our researchers investigate pediatric organ failure to improve survival and recovery through innovation in life support, monitoring, and critical care science.
Neonatal Intensive Care
CLINICAL CARE
Expert intensive care for premature and critically ill newborns at advanced facilities at Nemours Children’s hospitals in Delaware and Florida.
Neuromuscular Research
RESEARCH AREA
We study pediatric neuromuscular disorders to improve mobility, breathing, and long-term independence through gene-based therapies and precision diagnostics.
Orthopedics Center, Delaware Valley
CLINICAL CARE
Pediatric orthopedic care including neuromuscular, spine, and limb conditions at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware and throughout Greater Philadelphia.
Orthopedics Research
RESEARCH AREA
Our teams study bone, joint, and muscle development to improve care for children with orthopedic conditions through innovation and collaboration.
Pediatric Intensive Care
CLINICAL CARE
Critical care for children with serious illness or injury in specialized units at our Delaware and Florida children's hospitals.
Pediatric Neonatology Research
We study how developing organ systems respond to stress in premature and critically ill newborns, advancing safer care and stronger long-term outcomes.
Pulmonology
CLINICAL CARE
Comprehensive care for children with lung, airway, and breathing disorders provided by Nemours pediatric pulmonologists.
Pulmonology Research
RESEARCH AREA
Our teams explore lung development and respiratory disease to improve care for children through imaging, monitoring tools, and treatment innovation.
Radiology Research
RESEARCH AREA
Our researchers advance pediatric imaging by developing safer, clearer techniques that improve diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of childhood conditions.