Short CV and list of most recent publications

Johan Agren (b. Feb 14, 1966 in Skellefteå, Sweden)

Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University

Neonatology Division

University Children’s Hospital

SE-751 85 Uppsala

SWEDEN

Ph: +46-18-6115987

Cell: +46-703-866966

E-mail: [email protected]

Present Positions

Associate Professor, Uppsala University, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health

Medical Director of Neonatal Intensive Care, University Children’s Hospital, Uppsala

Steering Committee Member - The Tiny Baby Collaborative

Group lead - Swedish Neonatal Society (Neurology group)                  

Degrees/Licenses

MD 1993, PhD 2003

Post-doc 2003-04 (Johns Hopkins University)

Licensed (EU/Sweden) in Pediatrics, Neonatology

Publications/Mentoring

≈60 original publications, reviews, and editorials. 10 book chapters.

2 past/7 current PhD students, 3 fellows (Neonatology)

Reviewer for several major international pediatric medical journals.

Research focus

Optimization of neonatal intensive care aiming to minimize central nervous system harm. Main ongoing projects are related to extreme prematurity, and asphyxia/HIE/hypothermia treatment.

Publications 2021-2025

Söderström F, Normann E, Jonsson M, Ågren J. Outcomes of a uniformly active approach to infants born at 22–24 weeks of gestation. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2021; doi:10.1136/archdischild-2020-320486.

Rysavy MA, Mehler K, Oberthur A, Ågren J, Kusuda S, McNamara PJ, Giesinger RE, Kribs A, Normann E, Carlson SJ, Klein JM, Backes CH, Bell EF. An Immature Science: Intensive Care for Infants Born at ≤23 Weeks of Gestation. J Pediatr. 2021; doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.03.006.

Sindelar R, Shepherd EG, Ågren J, Panitch HB, Abman SH, Nelin LD. Established severe BPD: is there a way out? Change of ventilatory paradigms. Pediatr Res. 2021; doi: 10.1038/s41390-021-01558-8.

Söderström F, Ågren J, Sindelar R. Early extubation is associated with shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and lower incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Early Hum Dev. 2021; doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2021.105467.

Ågren J, Segar JL, Söderström F, Bell EF. Fluid management considerations in extremely preterm infants born at 22-24 weeks of gestation. Semin Perinatol. 2021; doi: 10.1016/j.semperi.2021.151541.

Ågren J. The proactive approach to mother-infant dyads at 22-24 weeks of gestation: Perspectives from a Swedish center. Semin Perinatol. 2021; doi: 10.1016/j.semperi.2021.151536.

Thernström Blomqvist Y, Ågren J, Karlsson V. The Swedish approach to nurturing extremely preterm infants and their families: A nursing perspective. Semin Perinatol. 2021; doi: 10.1016/j.semperi.2021.151542.

Rysavy M, Nakamura T, Mehler K, Ågren J, McNamara P, Backes C; Tiny Baby Collaborative. Use of 2.0-mm endotracheal tubes for periviable infants. J Perinatol. 2022; doi: 10.1038/s41372-022-01323-7.

Dickmark M, Ågren J, Hellström-Westas L, Jonsson M. Risk factors for seizures in the vigorous term neonate: A population-based register study of singleton births in Sweden. PLoS One 2022; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264117.

Diderholm B, Normann E, Ahlsson F, Sindelar R, Ågren J. The Impact of Restricted versus Liberal Early Fluid Volumes on Plasma Sodium, Weight Change, and Short-Term Outcomes in Extremely Preterm Infants. Nutrients 2022; doi: 10.3390/nu14040795.

Späth C, Stoltz Sjöström E, Ågren J, Ahlsson F, Domellöf M. Sodium supply from administered blood products was associated with severe intraventricular haemorrhage in extremely preterm infants. Acta Paediatr. 2022; doi: 10.1111/apa.16423.

Karlsson V, Thernström Blomqvist Y, Ågren J. Nursing care of infants born extremely preterm. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2022; doi:10.1016/j.siny.2022.101369

Karlsson V, Sporre B, Freden F, Ågren J. Randomized controlled trial of low vs high oxygen during neonatal anesthesia: Oxygenation, feasibility, and oxidative stress. Pediatr Anesth. 2022; doi: 10.1111/pan.14519.

Naseh N, Canto Moreira N, Vaz TF, Gonzalez Tamez K, Ferreira H, Kaul YF, Johansson M, Diderholm B, Ahlsson F, Ågren J, Hellström-Westas L. Early Hyperglycemia in Very Preterm Infants Is Associated with Reduced White Matter Volume and Worse Cognitive and Motor Outcomes at 2.5 Years. Neonatology 2022; doi: 10.1159/000524923.

Törn AE, Hesselman S, Johansen K, Ågren J, Wikström AK, Jonsson M. Outcomes in children after mild neonatal hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy: A population-based cohort study. BJOG. 2023; doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.17533.

Arwehed S, Axelin A, Björklund LJ, Thernström Blomqvist Y, Heiring C, Jonsson B, Klingenberg C, Metsäranta M, Ågren J, Lehtonen L. Nordic survey showed wide variation in discharge practices for very preterm infants. Acta Paediatr. 2023; doi: 10.1111/apa.16934.

Hellström S, Jonsdotter A, Jonsson M, Pettersson K, Saltvedt S, Herbst A, Ågren J, Ådén U, Domellöf M, Hagberg H, Carlsson Y. A follow up on the feasibility after national implementation of magnesium sulfate for neuroprotection prior to preterm birth. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2023; doi: 10.1111/aogs.14673.

Arwehed S, Axelin A, Björklund LJ, Thernström Blomqvist Y, Heiring C, Jonsson B, Klingenberg C, Metsäranta M, Ågren J, Lehtonen L. Nordic survey showed wide variation in discharge practices for very preterm infants. Acta Paediatr. 2024 Jan;113(1):48-55. doi: 10.1111/apa.16934.

Tamez KG, Ohlin A, Wikström S, Odlind A, Olson L, Hellström-Westas L, Ågren J. Neonatal therapeutic hypothermia in a regional swedish cohort: Adherence to guidelines, transport and outcomes. Early Hum Dev. 2024 Aug;195:106077. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2024.106077.

Bäcke P, Axelin A, Ågren J, Thernström Blomqvist Y. Parent-infant closeness and care practices during therapeutic hypothermia in Swedish neonatal intensive care units. Sex Reprod Healthc. 2024 Sep;41:101010. doi: 10.1016/j.srhc.2024.101010.

Arwehed S, Axelin A, Ågren J, Blomqvist YT. Discharge criteria, practices, and decision-making in the transition of preterm infants to home. Pediatr Res. 2024 Nov 27. doi: 10.1038/s41390-024-03752-w.

Naseh N, Vaz T, Ferreira H, Canto Moreira N, Hellström-Westas L, Ahlsson F, Ågren J. Impact of early nutrition on brain development and neurocognitive outcomes in very preterm infants. Pediatr Res. 2025 Mar 4. doi: 10.1038/s41390-025-03964-8.

Bernardini LB, Healy H, Battarbee AN, Brennick E, Church P, Pavlek LR, Tagliaferro T, Travers C, Vier K, Walsh J, Rysavy MA; Tiny Baby Collaborative Steering Committee. It's the little things. A framework and guidance for programs to care for infants 22-23 weeks' gestational age. J Perinatol. 2025 Mar 10. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02252-x.

Ågren J, Naseh N, Bell EF, Rysavy MA; Tiny Baby Collaborative Steering Committee. Tiny baby math: supralinear implications for management of infants born at less than 24 weeks gestation. J Perinatol. 2025 Mar 31. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02273-6.

LeMoine FV, Battarbee AN, Travers CP, Battersby C, Gibson KS; Tiny Baby Collaborative Steering Committee. Considerations for obstetric management of births 22-25 weeks' gestation. J Perinatol. 2025 Apr 11. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02289-y.

Stoll CM, Jani PR, Ågren J, Bell EF, August DL, Backes CH, Rysavy MA; Tiny Baby Collaborative Steering Committee. Approaches to incubator humidification at <25 weeks' gestation and potential impacts on infants. J Perinatol. 2025 Apr 19. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02294-1.

Tamez KG, Montazeri S, Ågren J, Hellström Westas L, Vanhataalo S. Early outcome-prediction with an automated EEG background trend in hypothermia-treated newborns with encephalopathy. Pediatr Res. 2025. Accepted for publication.

Naseh N, Bell EF, Sindelar R, Hellström Westas L, Ågren J. Fluid balance in preterm infants born at 22-23 weeks’ gestation: trajectories and associations with outcomes. J Pediatr. 2025. Accepted for publication.

Jonsson M, Hellström-Westas L, Wikman P, Ågren J. Adverse long-term outcomes following seizures in non-asphyxiated term infants: A population-based cohort study. Pediatr Res. 2025. Under final review.

Invited speaker 2021-2025

2021

“Management of infants born at 22 and 23 weeks of gestation”, Reason Neonatal Conference, UK (virtual)

“Management of infants born at 22-24 weeks of gestation”, European Congress of Perinatal Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal (virtual)

2022

“Fluid and electrolyte management at the lowest gestations”, Madison WI (virtual)

“Management of 22 week infants”, Denver CO (virtual)

“Improving outcomes at the lowest gestations”, Ipokrates Conference, Munich Germany

“Fluids and electrolytes at 22-24 weeks of gestation”, Ipokrates Conference, Munich Germany

“The Swedish approach towards extremely preterm infants”, Japan NRN Meeting (virtual)

2023

“Fluid management of extremely preterm infants born at 22-24 weeks of gestation”, Neonatal Grand Rounds (virtual), Calgary/Western Canada

“Management of infants born at the limit of viability”, Nagano Neonatal Society Conference, Nagano-Matsumoto, Japan

“Family-centered care of extremely preterm infants”, Kyorin University Lecture, Tokyo, Japan

“Fluid management of extremely preterm infants born at 22-24 weeks of gestation”, Neonatal Grand Lectures (virtual), Sydney/NSW, Australia

“Fluid management of extremely preterm infants born at 22-24 weeks of gestation”, Tiny Baby Collaborative Webinar (virtual), Columbus, OH

“Management of Mother-Infant dyads born at at 22-24 weeks of gestation – A Swedish Center’s experience”, Joint European Neonatal Societies Meeting, Rome, Italy

2024

“Tiny baby math-the supralinear implications of infants born at 22-23 weeks gestation”, PAS-meeting, Toronto, Canada

“Proactive care of infants born at 22-24 weeks”, Helsinki Children’s Hospital, Finland

“The DOs and DON’Ts of fluid management at <24 weeks”, Japan-Taiwan-Korea Neonatology Conference, Matsumoto, Japan

“Setting up a small baby unit”, Swedish Neonatal Quality Register Annual Meeting, Arlanda, Sweden.

“Management of extremely preterm infants in Japan”, Tokyo, Japan (Discussant).

2025

“Proactive care of extremely preterm infants. First - do no harm!”, Cyprus Society of Perinatal Medicine Meeting, Limassol, Cyprus.

“Details in management of infants born at 22-24 weeks of gestation”, McGill Neonatal Rounds, Montreal, Canada.

“Fluid and electrolyte management at 22-23 weeks”, McGill Neonatal Rounds, Montreal, Canada.

“Management of infants born at less than 24 weeks – A Swedish Perspective”, McGill Pediatric Grand Rounds, Montreal, Canada.

“Aspects of Parenteral Nutrition, and Skin Care in Infants born at 22-23 weeks” (Panel Discussant), Tiny Baby Collaborative Meeting @PAS, Honolulu HI.