Biography

Dr. Lally is the A.G. McNeese Chair, Richard J. Andrassy Distinguished University Chair, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pediatric Surgery. He is Surgeon-in-Chief of the Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Dr. Lally completed his Pediatric Surgery Training at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and is board certified in Surgery, Critical Care and Pediatric Surgery. Dr. Lally is one of the world’s leading experts in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernias (CDH). He developed and runs the CDH Registry, which in an international consortium that has prospectively collected data on over 6,000 infants with this rare anomaly.

He is actively involved in student and resident education and the Center for Clinical Trials and Evidence Based Surgery. Dr. Lally has been principal investigator or co-investigator on several clinical trials.

Education

BS
Life Sciences - USAF Academy, Colorado, B.S.
MD
Doctor of Medicine - Tulane University Medical School, New Orleans, LA
Residency
Surgery - USAF Medical Center, Keesler AFB, MS
Research Fellow
Infections Diseases - Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
Residency
Pediatric Surgery - Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
MS
Clinical Research - The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX

Areas of Interest

Clinical Interests

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernias (CDH)

Research Interests

Kevin P. Lally, MD, MS, is the A.G. McNeese Chair in Pediatric Surgery, Richard Andrassy Distinguished Professor, and Chairman of the Department of Pediatric Surgery. The department conducts research in stroke/ischemic injury, amniotic stem cells, deformation and function, engineered diaphragm, Wharton jelly-cleft, exosomes for pulmonary hypertension and congenital diaphragmatic hernia, cord blood studies, and stem cells for traumatic brain injury. To learn how you can make a difference, please call (713) 500-3200 or visit www.uth.edu/giving.

  • Necrotizing Enterocolitis Surgical Trial (NEST)
    The NEST trial is a multi-center NIH-sponsored study through the Neonatal Research Network. This randomized, controlled trial is designed to determine the neurological status of patients at 18-22 months as the primary outcome after initial laparotomy or intraperitoneal drainage for infants (<1000 grams at birth) with NEC. In addition, the study also evaluates several secondary outcomes including surgical outcomes, nutritional status, grown and development, and biologic tissue studies. Infants are centrally randomized to immediate laparotomy or initial peritoneal drain. Pediatric surgeons have the option of a preference arm for those neonates thought to be only laparotomy candidates. The NEST trial is the largest neonatal surgical trial ever sponsored by the NIH.
  • Molecular Studies of Tracheal/Esophageal Anomalies and VACTERL (Vertebral, Anal, Cardiac, Tracheal, Esophageal, Renal and Limbs) Association
    This study is created to provide a DNA and tissue bank repository devoted to the study of tracheal/esophageal anomalies and VACTERL association. Blood samples from children with tracheal/esophageal anomalies and/or VACTERL association and their parents will be collected and stored and later used to perform molecular studies to characterize the gene defects for these disorders. These samples will then be used to perform linkage studies and other molecular testing that will ultimately help in the identification of the gene responsible for these anomalies.
  • Molecular Studies in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernias
    Blood samples collected on children with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) and their parents are collected at Children’s Memorial Hermann and Texas Children’s Hospital to be housed in a DNA and tissue bank repository devoted to the study of CDH. Material collected in these repositories is stored and used to perform molecular studies to identify and characterize chromosomal regions and specific genes that cause CDH. These samples are also used to perform linkage studies and other molecular testing that will ultimately help in the identification of the affected gene/genes.
  • Advancing Clinical Research in Pediatric Surgery: An Observational Study of Infants with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
    This is an international registry dedicated to the study of CDH, designed to prospectively review the outcome of all children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
  • Collection of Neuroblastoma Tissue, Bone Marrowand Blood Samples for Laboratory Correlates
    Tumor samples are collected from one hundred children, ages 0-18 years, at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital to establish the potential efficacy of EGF pathway inhibitors in the treatment of children with recurrent neuroblastoma, and provide further justification for their use in Phase I trials.

Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae