Press Releases
CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA, Dec. 17 2013 –The First International Conference on Human Milk Science and Innovation was recently held in California. This inaugural meeting focused on progress towards evidence-based nutrition, scientific advancement, and clinical experience with a human milk diet in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The new scientific forum for the latest thinking in human milk studies was well attended by renowned scientists and neonatologists from the U.S., Canada and Europe. It will be an annual consortium dedicated to innovation and scientific advancement in the field of human milk.
The conference was co-chaired by J. Bruce German PhD, Professor in Food Science and Technology, Director, Foods for Health Institute, UC Davis, and Dr. William Rhine, Professor of Pediatrics, Stanford University. The program covered a broad array of topics from innovative basic research, to more advanced human milk-related clinical research. This two-day conference delivered data that had not been previously presented in a public forum. Topics included:
“The First International Conference brought scientists from around the world to see a whole new vision for infant nourishment and protection in the NICU for the 21st century,” said Dr. German. “The scientific studies of human milk revealed by the tools of genomics is making it possible to understand infant nourishment as never before and provide premature infants with a better path to lifelong health.”
The event marks the first of its kind, focusing on collaboration in the science of human milk as it relates to extremely premature infants. It comes at a period of burgeoning interest in the use of human milk in the NICU, particularly among preemies born weighing less than 1250 grams, in which group significant clinical benefit has been shown. Participants expressed a strong interest in returning for future meetings.
“The conference was both educational and motivating,” said Dr. Rhine. “By discussing numerous studies about human milk with our basic science and clinical colleagues, we now have a better understanding of the biology and medical evidence that should be driving our nutritional choices for babies.”
Prolacta is the sole company to make nutritional products from human breast milk, as opposed to cow milk, for preemies in the NICU. The company makes the only human milk fortifier (HMF) derived from 100% human milk, Prolact+ H2MF®. Clinical data have demonstrated numerous health benefits for premature infants weighing less than 1250g at birth, when human milk-based nutrition is used instead of the previous standard of cow milk-based nutrition. HMF is needed to provide the added nutrition necessary for extremely premature infants in the NICU since they have extra nutritional needs above what can be provided by their mother’s milk or donor milk alone.
“Prolacta is committed to ongoing research and the development of innovative human milk-based products for premature infants,” said Scott Elster, CEO of Prolacta Bioscience. “During this meeting, several ideas for collaboration in scientific research and clinical studies were generated by the thought leaders in this field that will definitely be pursued.”
About Prolacta Bioscience
Prolacta Bioscience, Inc. is a life science company dedicated to improving quality of life by Advancing the Science of Human Milk®. Prolacta creates specialty formulations made exclusively from human milk for the nutritional needs of critically ill, premature infants in the NICU. It is the first and only company to provide a commercially available human milk fortifier made from 100% human milk, Prolact+ H2MF. Prolacta operates a pharmaceutical grade processing plant and has designed and patented processes that enable them to make their one-of-a-kind products. Prolacta is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of the most vulnerable premature babies through world-class research and innovative products.