Amy D’Agata, PhD, RN

  • Associate Professor
  • College of Nursing
  • Phone: 401.874.9703
  • Email: amydagata@uri.edu
  • Office Location: Nursing Education Center, 350 Eddy St., Providence, RI 02903

Biography

Dr. Amy D’Agata is a nurse scientist whose work bridges neonatal care and lifelong health. With a Ph.D. earned from the University of Connecticut and postdoctoral training in biobehavioral mechanisms at the University of South Florida, she has built a research program that examines the long-term health trajectories of individuals born preterm.

She leads the NIH-funded RHODE Study, the longest continuously running study of preterm survivors in the United States, now following participants into adulthood. Her team investigates how early adversity shapes cardiometabolic, immune, and endocrine health, as well as epigenetic aging, at midlife.

Dr. D’Agata’s work dispels the myth that preterm birth is only a childhood concern. With millions of preterm survivors now reaching adulthood, she advocates for integrating birth history into routine clinical practice, and developing guidelines that address their unique health risks. Her research advances health equity by ensuring that the lifelong needs of this growing population are recognized and met.

Research

Preterm birth outcomes, adults born preterm, neonatal intensive care, biological methods, developmental origins of health and disease, and health policy

Education

PhD, Nursing, University of Connecticut

MS, Nursing, University of Connecticut

BSN, Nursing, University of Saint Joseph

Selected Publications

D’Agata, A. L., Eaton, C., Smith, T., Vittner, D., Sullivan, M. C., Granger, D. A., Lu, B., Parent, J. (2025, in review). U.S. preterm birth cohort at 35 years: RHODE study insights of psychological and physical health. JAMA Network Open.

D’Agata, A. L., Miller, J. S., Yoo, J. Y., Springer, C. M., Groer, M. W. (2025, ahead of print). Relationships between NICU infant stressors and childhood behavior and development. Advances in Neonatal Care. 10.1097/ANC.0000000000001253.

Vance, A. J., Farmer, M. L., D’Agata, A., Moore, T., Esser, M., & Fortney, C. A. (2024). NANN Membership Recommendations: Opportunities to Advance Racial Equity Within the Organization. Advances in Neonatal Care: Official Journal of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, 24(1), 71–77. https://doi-org.uri.idm.oclc.org/10.1097/ANC.0000000000001111

Rahalkar, N., Holman-Vittone, A., Daniele, C., Wacks, R., Gagnon, A., D’Agata, A., Saquib, N., Schnatz, P. F., Sullivan, M. C., Wallace, R., Spracklen, C. N. (2023). Preterm birth, birthweight, and subsequent risk for depression. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 14(5):623-630. https://doi-org.uri.idm.oclc.org/10.1017/S2040174423000296

Brewer, P. L., D’Agata, A. L., Roberts, M. B., Saquib, N., Schnatz, P. F., Manson, J., Eaton, C. B., Sullivan, M. C. (2023). The co-occurrence and cumulative prevalence of hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypothyroidism in  preterm born women in the Women’s Health Initiative. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 1-10. https://doi-org.uri.idm.oclc.org/10.1017/S2040174423000120.

Vittner, D., D’Agata, A., Choi, B. Y., McGrath, J. (2023). Vittner, D., D’Agata, A., Choi, B. Y., & McGrath, J. (2023). Release of oxytocin and cortisol is associated with neurobehavioral patterns in premature infants. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing: JOGNN, 52(3), 248–256. https://doi-org.uri.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2023.03.001

Kutahyalioglu, N. S., Mallinson, K. R., Scafide, K. N., D’Agata, A. L. (2023). “It takes a village” to Implement Family-centered Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Advances in Neonatal Care, 23(5), 457-466. https://doi-org.uri.idm.oclc.org/10.1097/ANC.0000000000001091.

Brewer, P., D’Agata, A. L., Roberts, M., Wild, R., Shadyab, A., Saquib, N., Manson, J., Eaton, C., Sullivan, M. C. (2023). Association of preterm birth with prevalent and incident hypertension, early-onset hypertension, and cardiovascular disease in the Women’s Health Initiative. American Journal of Cardiology, 192, 132-138. https://doi-org.uri.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2023.01.033.

Kelly, M. M., Arcoleo K., D’Agata, A. L., Sullivan, M. C. (2023). A test of differential susceptibility in behavior trajectories of preterm infants from preschool to adulthood. Research in Nursing & Health, 46(1), 80-92. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.22275.

Brewer, P., D’Agata, A. L., Sullivan, M. C. (2022). A new cardiovascular disease risk factor for young adults: Preterm birth. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 34(12), 1252-1257. https://doi.org/10.1097/jxx.0000000000000784.

Sullivan, M. C., D’Agata, A. L., Stanley, Z., Brewer, P., Kelly, M. M. (2022). A protocol to assess adult outcomes at 30 years following preterm birth. Nursing Research, 71(6), 491-497. https://doi.org/10.1097/nnr.0000000000000612.

Kutahyalioglu, N. S., Scafide, K. N., Mallinson, K. R., D’Agata, A. L. (2022). Implementation and practice barriers of family-centered care encountered by neonatal nurses. Advances in Neonatal Care, 22(5), 432-443. https://doi-org.uri.idm.oclc.org/10.1097/anc.0000000000000948.

Dutra, S. V. O., Gordon, J., Shaffer, E., Miller, E. M., Harville, C., Yoo, J. Y., Sarkar, A., Ji, M., D’Agata, A. L., Groer, M. W. (2022). An exploratory principal factor analysis of very low birth weight clinical data and development-behavior outcomes at 4 years of age. Pediatric Nursing, 48(1), 21-33. NLM. https://search-ebscohost-com.uri.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cin20&AN=155301528&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Vittner, D. J., Young, H., D’Agata, A. (2022). Stress and burnout influence NICU healthcare professionals’ decision-making on family-centered care delivery: An international survey. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 28(6), 430-436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnn.2021.12.001.

D’Agata, A. L., Green, C. E., Sullivan, M. C. (2022). A new patient population for adult clinicians: Preterm born adults. The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 9. Epub. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2022.100188.

D’Agata, A. L., Kelly, M., Green, C. E., Sullivan, M. C. (2022). Molding influences of prematurity: Interviews with adults born preterm. Early Human Development, 166, 105542. https://doi-org.uri.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2022.105542.

Groer, M. W., Miller, E. M., D’Agata, A. L., Ho, T. B., Dutra, S. V. O., Yoo, J. Y., Yee, A. L., Gilbert, J. A., Dishaw, L. J. (2020). Contributors to dysbiosis in very low birth weight infants. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 49(3), 232-242. https://doi-org.uri.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2020.02.003.

D’Agata, A. L., Wu, J., Welandawe, M. K. V., Dutra, S. V. O., Kane, B., Groer, M. (2019). Effects of early life NICU stress on the developing gut microbiome. Developmental Psychobiology, 61, 650-660. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.21826.

D’Agata, A. L., Roberts, M. B., Ashmeade, T., Dutra, S. V. O., Kane, B., Groer, M. (2019). Novel method of measuring chronic stress for preterm infants: Skin cortisol. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 102, 204-211. https://doi-org.uri.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/dev.21826.

D’Agata, A. L., Coughlin, M., Sanders, M. (2018). Clinician perceptions of the NICU infant experience: Is the NICU hospitalization traumatic? American Journal of Perinatology, 35(12), 1159–1167. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0038-1641747.

Provenzi, L., De Carli, P., Fumagalli, M., Giorda, R., Casavant, C., Beri, S., Citterio, A., D’Agata, A., Morandi, F., Mosca, F., Borgatti, R., & Montirosso, R. (2018). Very preterm birth is associated with PLAGL1 gene hypomethylation at birth and discharge. Epigenomics, 10(8), 1121-1130. https://doi.org/10.2217/epi-2017-0123.

Groer, M. W., Fuchs, D., Duffy, A., Louis-Jacques, A., D’Agata, A., Postolache, T. T. (2018). Associations between obesity, inflammation, and tryptophan catabolism in pregnancy. Biological Research for Nursing, 20(3), 284-291. https://doi.org/10.1177/1099800417738363.

Ramesh, D., D’Agata, A., Starkweather, A. R., Young, E. E. (2018). Contribution of endocannabinoid gene expression and genotype on low back pain susceptibility and chronicity. Clinical Journal of Pain, 34(1), 8-14. https://doi.org/10.1097/ajp.0000000000000508.

Young, E. E., D’Agata, A. L., Vittner, D., Baumbauer, K. (2017). Neurobiological consequences of early painful experience: Basic science findings and implications for evidence-based practice. Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing, 31(2), 178-185. https://doi.org/10.1097/jpn.0000000000000258.

D’Agata, A. L., Young, E. E., Walsh, S., Cong, X., McGrath, J. M. (2017). FKBP5 genotype and early life stress exposure predict neurobehavioral outcomes for preterm infants. Developmental Psychobiology, 59(3), 410-418. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.21507.

D’Agata, A. L., Sanders, M., Grasso, D., Young, E. E., Cong, X., McGrath, J. M. (2017). Unpacking the burden of care for infants in the NICU. Infant Mental Health Journal, 38(2), 306-317. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21636.

D’Agata, A. L., Young, E. E., Cong, X., Grasso, D., McGrath, J. M. (2016). Infant medical trauma in the neonatal intensive care unit (IMTN): A proposed concept for science and practice. Advances in Neonatal Care, 16(4), 289-297. https://doi.org/10.1097/anc.0000000000000309.

D’Agata, A. L., McGrath, J. M. (2016). A framework of complex adaptive systems: Parents as partners in the NICU. Advances in Nursing Science, 39(3), 244-256. https://doi.org/10.1097/ans.0000000000000127.

D’Agata, A. & McGrath, J.M. (2013). Explaining the relationship between illness and epigenetics to families. Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews, 13(4), 148-150. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.nainr.2013.09.008.