​We are very excited to be in Kanagawa, Japan for the 19th International Conference of the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation! Dr. Azad will give a talk on sex differences in lactation in the CHILD Study, the ALSPAC cohort, and non-human primates (a co-presentation with Dr. Katie Hinde), and three of our trainees have poster presentations: Deborah Chan is presenting her research on milk hormones, Kozeta Miliku is presenting her research on breastfeeding and blood pressure, and Shirin Moossavi is presenting her research on integrated analysis of human milk components.

Deborah Chan (Undergraduate Student) & Jacqueline Richelle (Pediatrics Resident) won Gold in their respective categories at CHRIM Child Health Research Day. Both are studying breast milk composition in the CHILD Study. Deborah’s research shows associations between milk hormones and infant body composition, while Jacqueline’s research shows associations between milk fatty acids and allergic sensitization. Congratulations Deborah & Jacqueline!

Dr. Azad visited the ALSPAC Cohort earlier this year and completed a research project on FUT2 secretor status and maternal health conditions. The study was published this week in Wellcome Open Research: https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/3-65/v2.  This study of over 7500 pregnant women shows that FUT2 non-secretors have an increased risk of mumps infection and kidney disease. We are following up on this project to study the impact and interaction of secretor status and breastfeeding in the development of chronic diseases in ALSPAC children.

Our latest research from the CHILD Study were published today in Pediatrics. Our results show that breastfeeding was inversely associated with weight gain velocity, BMI, and overweight risk during infancy. This association was dose dependent, diminished with formula supplementation, and weaker when breast milk was fed from a bottle. The study was done in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

​Our latest paper, “Human Milk Oligosaccharide Concentrations Are Associated with Multiple Fixed and Modifiable Maternal Characteristics, Environmental Factors, and Feeding Practices” was published today in The Journal of Nutrition. This is among the largest studies to date examining the factors shaping HMO composition. These complex and fascinating molecules are critically important to infant gut microbiota development. We are currently exploring their association with other milk components and infant health in the CHILD cohort. The study was undertaken in collaboration with HMO expert, Dr. Lars Bode, at the University of California San Diego. Read the full paper here.

Check out the webinar with Dr. Azad on September 20th at 11am CST
Part 2 of 2: New Guidelines and Evolving Evidence for Infant Feeding and Food AllergiesHosted by the Canadian Nutrition Society 

​Our student Linda Lam received the received the BSc Med Program Award for Outstanding Clinical Research Project. Linda spent two summers with our lab and TMPLR Study examining the developmental origins of bone health. Her award-winning project is entiled: “Breastfeeding and Bone Mineral Density in Adulthood: The Manitoba Personalized Lifestyle Research Study”. Well done, Linda!

Our postdoc Kozeta Miliku published a review with Dr. Azad on "Breastfeeding and Developmental Origins of Asthma: Current Evidence, Possible Mechanisms, and Future Research Priorities" in Nutrients. Check it out HERE.