Top Innovations in Neonatology
SHINE 2026 Award for Best Innovation in Neonatology

The Organizing Committee of SHINE 2026 is pleased to announce a call for submissions showcasing top innovations in neonatology. This prestigious annual conference brings together global leaders in neonatal-perinatal medicine to share breakthrough technologies, novel interventions, and transformative care models that improve neonatal outcomes and family experiences.

We welcome submissions from individuals or teams working in research, clinical practice, technology development, or implementation science.

The accepted submissions will be presented at the conference and will be published in the Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine with an assigned DOI.

Winners will be invited to present their work in person and will be recognized during the SHINE 2026 Award Ceremony.

Eligibility

• Open to clinicians, researchers, healthcare teams, startups, engineers, and innovators worldwide.
• Submissions may represent original research, technological development, implementation programs, or cross-disciplinary collaborations.
• Entries must be original and not previously published or presented at national conferences.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions must include the following:

• Title of the Innovation (clear and concise)
• Author(s): Full name(s), email, and phone contact
• Institution(s): Affiliated organizations (write “N/A” if not applicable)
• Innovation Description (background, concept, implementation)
• Impact/Potential Impact: Effect on neonatal outcomes or family experience
• Uniqueness: What sets this innovation apart?

Word limit: Maximum 500 words
Language: English only

Areas of Interest

Innovations may include, but are not limited to:

• Developmental care and neuroprotection
• Neonatal pharmacology and drug development
• Genomics and precision medicine
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Telehealth and remote care
• Neonatal surgical innovation
• Care at the edge of viability
• Neonatal resuscitation advancements
• Neonatal nursing and family-integrated care
• Quality improvement in NICU settings
• Neonatal critical care
• Ethical, legal, and social innovations
• Digital health and use of social media in neonatology

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be peer-reviewed by a panel of expert neonatologists and innovation leaders. Evaluations will be based on:
Originality and novelty

• Scientific or clinical significance
• Potential for real-world impact
• Scalability or replicability
• Clarity of description
• Relevance to conference themes

Awards & Recognition

• Top-ranked innovations will be presented in a dedicated oral session at SHINE 2026.
• The innovations accepted for poster presentation will also compete for awards if presented at the conference.

Timeline

• Submission deadline: September 30, 2025
• Notification of acceptance: October 30, 2025 

Presentation Details

Authors of accepted abstracts will receive detailed guidelines for presentation format and duration. Presentations may include oral talks and posters.

Join us in shaping the future of neonatal care through visionary thinking and innovation.

Congratulations to SHINE 2025 Winners:

J. Peter Campbell, MD, Oregon Health & Science University
A new screening paradigm for retinopathy of prematurity

Vishnu S. Emani, BS, Harvard University
Optimizing NIRS sensor placement to detect necrotizing enterocolitis

Ryan M. McAdams, MD, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Deep learning that combines video with vital signs

Mohamed Mohamed, MD, Cleveland Clinic Children’s
Reimagining the CPAP nasal interface

Wissam Shalish, MD, PhD, Montreal Children’s Hospital, McGill University
Converting bCPAP sounds into clinical insights

Zachary Vesoulis, MD, Washington University
Earlier detection of opioid withdrawal symptoms