Third Annual International Conference on Human Milk Science & Innovation Concludes with New Research on Medical Applications in the NICU and Beyond

PASADENA, Calif. Sept. 16, 2015 – The third annual International Conference on Human Milk Science and Innovation was held last week in Pasadena, Calif., with international researchers presenting the latest scientific discoveries and clinical data related to the use of human milk.

As the premier conference on the study, research, development, science, and medical application of human milk and human milk-based nutrition, the annual meeting provides a forum for thought-leaders to share and discuss new research and applications that explore the benefits of human milk and its use in neonatal care and beyond.

J. Bruce German, Ph.D., UC Davis Foods for Health Institute, and William Rhine, M.D., Stanford University School of Medicine, reprised their roles as co-chairs for the third consecutive year.

“The significant advancements presented are a testament to the medical potential of human milk,” said William Rhine, M.D. “Not only does the research underscore the benefits of human milk for premature infants, but new studies are revealing applications for the use of human milk nutrition that extend to other areas of medicine with powerful possibilities for the future. “

The International Conference on Human Milk Science and Innovation program included the following presentations from leading experts in their respective fields:

• Bo Lönnerdal, Ph.D., University of California, Davis, Davis, Calif.: “Biological Role of Lactoferrin in Human Milk”
• Illimar Altosaar, Ph.D., University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada: “microRNAs Present in Human Milk”
• Forest Rowher, Ph.D., San Diego State University, San Diego, Calif.: “Milk and a New Phage-Based Immune System”
• Katherine Hinde, Ph.D., Arizona State University, Phoenix, Ariz.: “Mother’s Milk: Evolutionary Perspectives & Culture Contexts”
• Stella M. Davies, MBBS, Ph.D., MRCP, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio: “The Potential for the Use of Donor Milk in Young Bone Marrow Transplant Patients.”
• Cynthia Blanco, M.D., University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas: “Analysis of Macronutrient Data of Human Cream; Relationship Between Growth, Protein Levels and Energy Levels”
• David Parkin, Ph.D., King’s College, London, England: “Cost and Benefits of Human Milk Supplementation in Extremely Low Birth Weight Babies”
• Ursula Keichl-Kohlendorfer, M.D., University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria: “Follow-Up Study of Very Preterm Infants at 5 Years of Age and Early Markers of Cardiovascular Risk”
• William Rhine, M.D., Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, Calif.: “Chair-Led Discussion on Current and Future Clinical Applications of Human Milk”

“Over the past three years, the International Conference on Human Milk Science and Innovation has become a forum for colleagues from around the world to discuss the latest discoveries in the science of human milk,” said J. Bruce German, Ph.D. “This year’s conference was particularly pivotal with the evolution of clinical applications in new fields of medicine.”

About International Conference on Human Milk Science and Innovation

The International Conference on Human Milk Science and Innovation (humanmilkscience.org) is the premier forum covering the latest in scientific and clinical research related to human milk. Renowned scientists and clinicians from around the world attend this annual event to present and discuss the scientific potential of human milk and raise awareness of its clinical applicability. The conference is sponsored by Prolacta Bioscience.