Dr Shirin Moosavi from the Azad Lab has been highlighted on the University of Manitoba Graduate Students' Association website. CLICK HERE to view her profile and learn more about the research she is doing. 

Our breastfeeding research was featured by the University of Manitoba as part of a special "Innovation" feature in the Globe & Mail. In her interview entitled "How bacteria and breastmilk could be our best allies against allergy and asthma", Dr. Azad explains that “We want to find specific components of breastmilk that are important, and figure out what they are doing to the gut microbiome—and understand how all of this affects the health and development of children," adding that “Human milk is the ultimate personalized medicine.”

This innovative event will bring the brightest scientific minds from across the country to Parliament Hill for a day-long event to exchange ideas, learn about policy making at the political level, meet with parliamentarians, and discuss advancements in scientific research and how they can be used in policy making experience. Follow the event on social media (#SciParl2018) or visit: https://sciencepolicy.ca/science-meets-parliament.

​Azad Lab postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Kozeta Miliku, was awarded two Postdoctoral Fellowships for her research on breastfeeding, human milk oligosaccharides, and asthma development in the CHILD Study. These competitive fellowships are from Research Manitoba and the Canadian Lung Association. Congratulations, Kozeta!

​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.