KUMC Maternal and Child Nutrition and Development Lab

Congratulations to our own Dr. Carlson for receiving the 2022 Chancellors Club Career Research Award!

2022 Chancellors Club Career Research Award KU honors nutrition and pediatric health researcher Susan Carlson

Another study from the ADORE trial that links higher dose DHA supplementation in pregnancy to immune changes that could explain the trial finding that higher dose reduced preterm birth.

Science Update: High-dose DHA influences immune responses during pregnancy, may reduce risk of preterm birth Taking supplemental docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) during pregnancy may decrease the risk of preterm birth. A new NICHD-supported study offers a potential explanation for this effect by suggesting that a daily 1,000-milligram dose of DHA influences certain inflammatory immune responses linked to childbi...

So excited to announce that our lab leader, Dr. Susan Carlson, has been selected as a member of the Class of 2021 Fellows of the American Society for Nutrition. Induction as a Fellow is the society's highest honor, recognizing Dr. Carlson's significant contributions to the field of nutrition throughout her distinguished career!

Congrats to the 15 individuals who will be inducted into the Class of Fellows! To be inducted as a Fellow of the Society is the highest honor ASN bestows. Join us to celebrate their distinguished careers at NUTRITION 2021 LIVE ONLINE https://nutrition.org/american-society-for-nutrition-foundation-announces-class-of-2021-fellows/

We were excited to learn that our last paper for the DIAMOND trial examining the long-term impact of DHA-supplemented infant formula on children's brain function, structure, and metabolism was one of the Top Cited articles for 2019-2020 in Developmental Psychobiology. This project was a collaborative effort with our colleagues at the Hoglund Brain Imaging Center. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/dev.21780

The latest edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans has been published by the USDA in collaboration with HHS. For the first time in its 40-year history, recommendations for infants and toddlers under 2 years of age are included.
The latest update also recommends seafood consumption for pregnant women: "Seafood intake during pregnancy is recommended, as it is associated with favorable measures of cognitive development in young children. Women who are pregnant or lactating should consume at least 8 and up to 12 ounces of a variety of seafood per week, from choices lower in methylmercury."

New Dietary Guidelines Recommends Seafood for Moms & Kids Seafood is an important source of iron, zinc, protein & omega-3s needed for brain development, according to the Dietary Guidelines for seafood consumption.

Dietary Guidelines Committee Recommends Moms & Kids Eat More Seafood for Brain Health • Seafood Nutrition Partnership Women should eat seafood before, during and after pregnancy, and beginning at 6 months of age complementary foods should prioritize seafood, according to DGAC Scientific Report

A caution about screen exposure and structural integrity of preschool-age children's brains.

Associations Between Screen Use and White Matter Integrity in Preschoolers This cross-sectional study examines the results of diffusion tensor imaging, cognitive testing, and a screen time survey to identify the implications of screen-based media use for the development of language and literacy skills in early childhood.

So many facets of preterm birth are poorly understood, even by medical professionals in the field...

The Ongoing Trauma of Prematurity Dr. Jen Gunter on why we need to start talking about the difficult aftermath of those long NICU stays and medical interventions.

Good memories from when our lab meeting coincided with National Boss’ Day...

In honor of National Boss's Day, the lab staff wanted to have a little fun and treat our P*s like royalty and nobility to thank them for making our research lab such an enjoyable and rewarding place to work. So from left to right we have: biostatistician, Sir Countsalot (aka Byron Gajewski); developmental cognitive psychologist, Emperor Neuro (aka John Colombo); electrophysiologist, Joan of MEG (aka Kathleen Gustafson); and nutritionist, CleoPUFA (aka Susan Carlson).

Seafood Consumption: Neurocognitive Development and Pre-Term Birth - Dr. Susan Carlson Dr. Susan Carlson, AJ Rice Professor of Nutrition, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center