Cynthia Blanco, M.D.

Dr. Cynthia Blanco is a Professor of Pediatrics with Tenure. She completed her undergraduate studies and received her MD at the Universidad de Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico. She completed her residency in Pediatrics at Texas Tech University and her Post Doctoral degree in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio with a Masters in Clinical Investigation. She is heavily involved in clinical research and has been well published in peer reviewed journals. Her research interests are in parenteral and enteral nutrition of the critically ill neonate. Her research focus includes enteral nutrition strategies to decrease the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis with exclusive human nutrition and the biochemical markers involved in pasteurized human milk in relationship with gastrointestinal disease. She has also studied the effects of early and higher intravenous Amino Acid supplementation for ELBW infants and the use of IV Fish oil for parenteral associated disease. Her basic science research relates to glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in prematurity. Due to her passion a Neonatal Nutrition and Bone Institute was established under her leadership at University Hospital. This is one of few centers in the country where full metabolic analyses can be done such as DEXA and body composition analyses by air displacement plethysmography and bone scans with ultrasound. In this Institute, they have implemented the utilization of novel therapies such as Intravenous Fish oil for infants with Parenteral Nutrition Associated Liver disease and short bowel syndrome as a resource to bridge neonates to liver transplant and/or survive them without transplant. Dr. Blanco believes we will continue to improve the health of neonates, children and adults by improving nutrition and metabolism at an early age.