HMO AND THE GUT MICROBIOME

Rachael is an expert in the field of immune health. In her role as a Discovery scientist, she studies the components of breast milk to develop infant formulas closer to the benefits of breast milk. She also helps design clinical trials to study the effects of these nutrients on babies’ development in the first year of life.

Currently, Rachael is leading the pioneering research programme for human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). HMOs are beneficial, prebiotic- like nutrients found in a mother’s breast milk that support intestinal and overall health. Abbott has driven the clinical research behind HMOs paving the way for a breakthrough ingredient to be added to infant formulas. The research on HMOs has demonstrated improved immunity benefits similar to breast fed infants. Preclinical research also shows HMOs reduce intestinal discomfort, reduce food allergy symptoms, and enhance cognition, which may lead to diverse health benefits for infants.

Rachael joined Abbott in 1995 and over her career has been awarded a President’s Award for research on nucleotides and paediatric immunity, a Global Discover Luminary Award and an Outstanding Researcher Award for HMO research. She was also named an Associate Research Fellow for her pioneering work. She has authored over 50 articles and filed over 50 patents. Rachael received her Ph.D. degree in immunology from the University of Cambridge, U.K.

Ardythe L. Morrow, PhD is Professor of Paediatrics, Nutrition and Environmental Health at the University of Cincinnati, and Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Human Milk and Lactation at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She co-chairs the campus Nutrition Hot Topics grand rounds and is a founding member of the Global Health Center at Cincinnati Children’s. Trained in epidemiology, nutrition, and infectious disease, the primary focus of her career has been in human milk protection against infectious and inflammatory gut disorders, growth retardation and the bioactive components of human milk that offer protection. She has been particularly focused on the role of human milk and gut oligosaccharide in infant and child health. She is known for publishing the first functional studies of human milk oligosaccharide protection in human infants. She served as the founder and director of the Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology from 2001 to 2011 at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She has achieved more than $25 million dollars in total research funding from NIH, CDC, foundations and industry. She has published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers and 15 chapters, monographs or books. She has served as a reviewer and scientific adviser to NIH, CDC, PAHO and WHO and major nutrition companies, and often sought as an invited speaker. She serves on the editorial board of multiple journals. She loves to mentor and has many former trainees in academia and industry leadership positions. She has ongoing projects in several countries.

JoMay Chow is a Senior Research Scientist within the Abbott Nutrition R&D Gut Health Platform and is responsible for translational research in the areas of prebiotics, probiotics, and gastrointestinal microbiology. She is currently a member of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics & Prebiotics (ISAPP) Industry Advisory Committee and the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) North America Gut Microbes & Health Committee. Previously, she served on the Abbott Scientific Governing Board’s Human Microbiome Committee to explore future opportunities in this rapidly emerging area. Prior to joining Abbott in 1994, JoMay obtained a Ph.D. from Cornell University and conducted post-doctoral research at the USDA National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research.