DM Neonatology Thesis Topics: Top 100 Research Ideas 2026

DM Neonatology thesis topics demand original research that advances NICU care, reduces neonatal mortality, and addresses unresolved questions in newborn medicine. Whether you are a DM Neonatology fellow, a DNB Paediatrics candidate specialising in newborn care, or an MD Paediatrics student with a neonatal focus, choosing the right thesis topic is the first and most important step. This curated list of 100 research-worthy thesis topics covers every major domain of neonatology — from respiratory distress and prematurity to sepsis, neurology, nutrition, and NICU quality improvement.

1Why Neonatology Research Matters in 2026

India accounts for the highest number of neonatal deaths globally. Despite improvements in NICU infrastructure over the past decade, neonatal mortality and morbidity — particularly in preterm and low-birth-weight infants — remain a major public health challenge. DM Neonatology research directly addresses this gap by generating evidence that improves clinical protocols, NICU procedures, and long-term follow-up strategies.

2Neonatal Respiratory & Prematurity Thesis Topics (1–20)

1. Comparison of INSURE vs. LISA technique for surfactant delivery in preterm neonates with RDS
2. Outcome of non-invasive respiratory support (nCPAP vs. HFNC) in late preterm infants
3. Caffeine citrate therapy: optimal timing and dose in preterm neonates — a prospective study
4. Predictors of surfactant need in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome
5. Antenatal corticosteroid adequacy and its effect on neonatal respiratory outcomes in <34 weeks gestation
6. Lung ultrasound score as a predictor of severity of RDS and surfactant requirement
7. Outcome of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants: a prospective cohort study from a tertiary NICU
8. Bubble CPAP vs. ventilator CPAP in preterm neonates with RDS: a randomised comparison
9. Incidence and risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm neonates <32 weeks
10. Role of postnatal corticosteroids in BPD prevention: a systematic review and meta-analysis
11. Non-invasive high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in preterm neonates: feasibility and outcomes
12. Predictors of extubation failure in preterm neonates on mechanical ventilation
13. Transient tachypnoea of the newborn (TTN): natural history and risk factors for prolonged symptoms
14. Meconium aspiration syndrome: severity scoring and correlation with outcome
15. Pulmonary hypertension in term neonates: clinical profile, management, and outcomes
16. iNO therapy in neonatal pulmonary hypertension: response predictors and outcome
17. Apnoea of prematurity: incidence, severity, and response to methylxanthine therapy
18. Role of vitamin D in respiratory morbidity of preterm neonates
19. Extremely preterm neonates (23–27 weeks): survival and short-term morbidity outcomes
20. Timing of PDA treatment (conservative vs. pharmacological vs. surgical) and respiratory outcomes in VLBW

3Neonatal Sepsis & Infections Thesis Topics (21–40)

21. Early-onset neonatal sepsis (EOS): clinical, laboratory, and microbiological profile in a tertiary NICU
22. Procalcitonin vs. CRP as early biomarkers for neonatal sepsis: diagnostic accuracy study
23. Blood culture-confirmed late-onset sepsis: organism spectrum, antibiotic sensitivity, and outcomes
24. Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in NICU: incidence, risk factors, and prevention bundle
25. Neonatal fungal sepsis: risk factors, Candida species distribution, and antifungal outcomes
26. Neonatal meningitis: clinical features, CSF profile, organism spectrum, and neurological sequelae
27. Antibiotic stewardship programme in NICU: impact on antibiotic use and resistance patterns
28. Role of IL-6 and IL-8 in early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis
29. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms in NICU: prevalence and clinical impact
30. Duration of antibiotic therapy in culture-negative neonatal sepsis: a prospective audit
31. Neonatal tetanus: clinical profile and outcome in a rural tertiary hospital
32. Congenital syphilis: incidence, clinical presentation, and treatment outcome
33. TORCH infections in neonates: profile of congenital infections and neonatal outcomes
34. Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection: clinical features, CSF PCR positivity, and acyclovir outcomes
35. COVID-19 and neonatal outcomes: vertical transmission, clinical features, and prognosis
36. Carbapenem-resistant organism colonisation in NICU: surveillance, risk factors, and containment
37. Umbilical catheter-related infections: incidence, organisms, and risk reduction strategies
38. Probiotics for prevention of late-onset sepsis in preterm neonates: a randomised controlled trial
39. Skin care bundles and CLABSI reduction in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates
40. Neonatal sepsis scoring systems (NNISS, SNAPPE-II): validation in an Indian NICU setting

4Neonatal Neurology & Brain Injury Thesis Topics (41–55)

41. Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE): clinical grading (Sarnat), MRI correlation, and outcome at 1 year
42. Therapeutic hypothermia for HIE: feasibility, protocol adherence, and short-term outcomes in a public sector NICU
43. Amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) in neonatal seizures: detection, classification, and treatment response
44. Neonatal seizures: aetiology, EEG correlation, and neurodevelopmental outcome
45. Levetiracetam vs. phenobarbitone as first-line therapy for neonatal seizures: a randomised trial
46. Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) in preterm neonates: incidence, grading, and risk factors
47. Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL): ultrasound diagnosis, risk factors, and motor outcomes
48. Cranial ultrasonography as a screening tool for brain injury in preterm neonates <32 weeks
49. MRI brain findings in term neonates with HIE and correlation with 18-month neurodevelopmental outcome
50. Neonatal stroke: clinical presentation, MRI findings, seizure burden, and outcome
51. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for cerebral oxygenation monitoring in preterm neonates: feasibility study
52. Neurodevelopmental follow-up of VLBW survivors at 2 years: outcomes using Bayley-III scales
53. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP): incidence, risk factors, and treatment outcomes
54. Hearing loss in neonates admitted to NICU: BERA screening outcomes and risk factor analysis
55. Role of erythropoietin as a neuroprotective agent in preterm neonates: a randomised trial

5Neonatal Nutrition & Growth Thesis Topics (56–70)

56. Early vs. late initiation of parenteral nutrition in VLBW neonates: growth and metabolic outcomes
57. Donor human milk vs. preterm formula in VLBW infants: growth, necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), and sepsis
58. Human milk fortification: optimal timing and dose in preterm neonates — a randomised study
59. Minimal enteral feeding and time to full enteral feeds in preterm neonates <32 weeks
60. Kangaroo mother care (KMC): impact on breastfeeding rates, weight gain, and hypothermia prevention
61. Neonatal hypoglycaemia: incidence, risk factors, and neurodevelopmental outcome at 1 year
62. Probiotic supplementation in preterm neonates: effect on time to full feeds and NEC incidence
63. Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC): incidence, Bell's staging, surgical outcomes, and mortality
64. Spontaneous intestinal perforation vs. NEC in ELBW neonates: distinguishing features and surgical outcomes
65. Growth outcomes of VLBW survivors at 1 and 2 years: catch-up growth and predictors
66. Vitamin D deficiency in NICU neonates: prevalence, risk factors, and supplementation outcomes
67. Lactoferrin supplementation in preterm neonates: effect on sepsis and NEC prevention
68. Parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis: incidence, risk factors, and management strategies
69. Zinc supplementation in preterm neonates: impact on growth and immune outcomes
70. Feeding intolerance in preterm neonates: predictors and impact on NICU length of stay

6Neonatal Jaundice & Metabolic Thesis Topics (71–85)

71. Transcutaneous bilirubinometry vs. total serum bilirubin in predicting phototherapy need
72. Intensive phototherapy vs. conventional phototherapy: rate of bilirubin decline and exchange transfusion rates
73. Risk factors for severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia requiring exchange transfusion: a case-control study
74. G6PD deficiency and neonatal jaundice: prevalence, severity, and outcomes in the Indian population
75. Rhesus haemolytic disease: changing incidence and management challenges in the anti-D immunoglobulin era
76. Acute bilirubin encephalopathy: incidence, auditory brainstem response findings, and 1-year outcome
77. Neonatal hypothyroidism: incidence in newborn screening programme, clinical features, and treatment outcomes
78. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH): newborn screening results, clinical presentation, and management
79. Inborn errors of metabolism presenting in the neonatal period: clinical spectrum and diagnostic approach
80. Hyponatraemia in NICU neonates: aetiology, management, and neurological outcomes
81. Hyperkalaemia in preterm neonates: incidence, ECG changes, and treatment outcomes
82. Neonatal hypocalcaemia: risk factors, clinical features, and response to calcium supplementation
83. Hyperglycaemia in VLBW neonates on parenteral nutrition: incidence, insulin therapy, and outcomes
84. Neonatal polycythaemia: symptomatic vs. asymptomatic presentation and partial exchange transfusion outcomes
85. Late anaemia of prematurity: incidence, risk factors, and erythropoietin supplementation outcomes

7NICU Care, Procedures & Outcomes Thesis Topics (86–100)

86. NICU quality improvement bundle: impact of care bundles on infection rates and mortality
87. Family-integrated care (FiCare) model in NICU: parental stress, bonding, and neonatal outcomes
88. Pain assessment in neonates: validation of PIPP-R and NIPS scales in the Indian NICU setting
89. Sucrose analgesia for minor painful procedures in preterm neonates: a randomised placebo-controlled trial
90. Umbilical venous catheter (UVC) placement accuracy: X-ray vs. ultrasound guidance comparison
91. PICC line complications in NICU: incidence, types, and risk factor analysis
92. Near-miss events in NICU: a root-cause analysis and quality improvement initiative
93. Mortality risk scores (SNAPPE-II, CRIB-II) in NICU: validation in an Indian tertiary centre
94. NICU-associated noise levels: measurement, impact on neonatal stress, and noise reduction interventions
95. Palliative care in NICU: practices, challenges, and parental satisfaction in a tertiary centre
96. Outcome of late preterm infants (34–36 weeks): morbidity, readmission rates, and feeding difficulties
97. Small for gestational age (SGA) neonates: morbidity profile, NICU outcomes, and follow-up at 1 year
98. Neonatal transport: risk factors for deterioration during transport to tertiary NICU and transport stabilisation scores
99. Congenital heart disease presenting in neonatal period: clinical profile, surgical outcomes, and NICU management
100. Long-term neurodevelopmental and respiratory outcomes of NICU graduates: a 5-year follow-up cohort study