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 with extensive clinical experience in neonatal intensive care. She obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Nursing, where her dissertation explored preterm infants’ exposure to potentially traumatic events during their care. Dr. D’Agata furthered her studies with a postdoctoral fellowship in Biobehavioral Mechanisms at the University of South Florida College of Nursing, under the mentorship of Dr. Maureen Groer. This research investigated the interactions among health, neurodevelopment, and the gut microbiome in early childhood.

Dr. D’Agata’s research has evolved to examining the lifecourse effects of preterm birth. She serves as the principal investigator for the RHODE Study, the longest continuously running preterm birth study in the U.S. Funded by the NIH through an R01 grant, this study explores the impact of preterm birth on adult cardiometabolic, immune, and endocrine health as well as epigenetic aging at the age of 35.

Dr. D’Agata is dedicated to raising awareness about health risks for adults who were born preterm. Her research has dispelled myths, demonstrating that individuals born preterm may be at a higher risk of developing chronic conditions as they age. Given that millions of preterm-born individuals are now reaching adulthood, addressing their specific health needs has become vital for their well-being.

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.