Research
Breastmilk is considered the gold standard for infant nutrition. Breastfeeding provides substantial protections against infant death as well as long-term improvements in child and maternal health, compared to infant formula. Over 80% of American women start breastfeeding after delivery. Numerous obstacles prevent mothers from providing breastmilk for their infants, however, and fewer than 25% are able and/or willing to breastfeed to the extent recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These low breastfeeding rates are projected to cost Americans approximately $168B annually in morbidity and mortality related expenses. Skipped lactation cycles substantially increase long-term maternal risks, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The inability to breastfeed can also drive intense periods of anguish for mothers. We believe that mothers deserve support as they nourish and protect our next generations. Our research is dedicated to providing that support.
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Defining the Mechanisms Controlling LactationÂ
The ability to lactate is the culmination of complex, hormonally driven, developmental processes involving gene expression, structural and biochemical changes in the secretory epithelium of the mammary gland that begin during pregnancy and are completed postpartum when lactation is initiated. Our prior work focused on the specialized mechanism of milk fat secretion unique to the mammary gland, and the role this process plays in lactation success. We are now working to determine the sequence of cellular events leading up to lactation initiation and defining the signaling pathways which regulate these processes.
Investigating Lactational Challenges
Despite the remarkable importance of the human breast to support the well-being of our species, we understand very little about the biological causes of low milk production. Studies of large groups of women have shown that obesity is one of the strongest predictors of early termination of lactation. This relationship is very likely multifactorial, with obesity-related socioeconomic factors playing key roles. However, research in rodent models has shown that there is also a strong biological component in this relationship; mouse mothers fed a high fat diet have impaired development of the mammary gland during pregnancy and lactation, and their pups die or do not gain weight appropriately. This evidence tells us that we should seek to understand the cellular tools that the breast uses to drive milk production, and how these tools break down when women begin pregnancy at elevated body weights. As our population continues to have high rates of overweight and obesity, we expect these moms to continue to struggle with breastfeeding far into the future. We are working to understand the factors which impair lactation in the context of obesity. We are conducting human subjects research to investigate hormonal, metabolic and breast-specific causes of low milk supply. We are also using animal models of obesity to provide additional information.
Advanced Imaging Techniques
Our laboratories utilize live-cell imaging, molecular modeling, fluorescent staining, super-resolution microscopy, neural net segmentation of 3D image data, and various other techniques to establish and identify the molecular mechanisms of mammary development and lactation.
Advancing Experimental Approaches
The processes of mammary development and lactation are challenging to study directly. We utilize cutting edge tools to examine all aspects of lactation biology. These include genetically modified mouse models to support complex imaging approaches. We also use different components of human breastmilk samples to investigate the biology of the human mammary gland. We continue to push the envelope to develop new techniques that will allow us to learn more about how the mammary gland develops and functions to synthesize the dynamic fluid that supports life after birth.
