Oxford Lactation Research Centre secures future with £9.12 million donation

Generous Donation Fuels Research at Oxford: The Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation has generously donated £9.12 million to the University of Oxford, securing the future of a pioneering research centre focused on human milk production and its hormonal regulation. This donation will bolster the Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Oxford Centre for the Endocrinology of Human Lactation (LRF OCEHL), ensuring its sustainability and impact for years.

A Unique Focus on Hormonal Regulation in Lactation

Human milk is essential for the health and nutrition of infants, yet the intricacies of how hormones regulate its production and impact maternal-infant bonding remain largely unexplored. The LRF OCEHL, embedded within the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health and led by Professor Fadil Hannan, is the only center in the UK dedicated to this vital research.

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"Understanding the full range of hormones that influence lactation is crucial to helping mothers struggling to breastfeed," said Professor Hannan. By addressing hormone-related breastfeeding challenges, the centre aims to improve health outcomes for mothers and children globally.

Securing Long-Term Impact

The centre was established in 2018 with an initial £2.9 million donation from the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation. This new endowment of £9.12 million will fund a chair in the endocrinology of human lactation and an associated research and collaboration fund, ensuring the centre's long-term sustainability.

Professor Krina Zondervan, head of the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, expressed her excitement: "Our vision is to fill knowledge gaps that can improve lactation and breastfeeding outcomes. Thanks to this endowment, we have a unique opportunity to establish a line of research that’s been underappreciated for too long."

Driving Innovation and Collaboration

The research and collaboration fund will support new projects, focusing on generating pilot data from innovative ideas. This approach is designed to attract further research grants and philanthropic support, enabling the centre to conduct high-quality research over the long term.

Dr. Marco Steiner, president of the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation’s board, emphasized the importance of this support: “We are delighted to be supporting mothers and children’s health with this endowment. It enables the world-renowned University of Oxford to target a neglected research topic – the physiology of breastfeeding. Because this work is taking place in the John Radcliffe Hospital, the team is in a wonderful position to support breastfeeding mothers, making practical, meaningful differences in the lives of families every day.”

A Global Effort for Better Breastfeeding Outcomes

The Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation, established in Switzerland in 2013, is an independent philanthropic organization that promotes breastfeeding and supports research in human milk and lactation. The foundation’s support for the Oxford-based centre is part of a broader commitment to advancing this field of research globally.

In addition to the LRF OCEHL, the foundation has endowed four other independent research centres: the University of Zurich, the University of Western Australia, and the University of California. Together, these institutions form the Global Human Milk Research Consortium, a network that focuses on complementary research topics and collaborates on projects that bridge traditional divides between disciplines.

Bridging Research and Practical Support

The LRF OCEHL’s location within the John Radcliffe Hospital offers unique advantages. The proximity to a clinical setting allows for the practical application of research findings, directly supporting breastfeeding mothers. This integration of research and clinical practice ensures that the centre's work makes meaningful, everyday differences in the lives of families.

With the new endowment, the Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Oxford Centre for the Endocrinology of Human Lactation is well-positioned to continue its groundbreaking research. By exploring the hormonal regulation of lactation, the centre aims to develop solutions for breastfeeding challenges and improve health outcomes for mothers and children worldwide.

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This substantial donation marks a significant milestone for the LRF OCEHL and underscores the importance of dedicated research in human milk production. The centre's work, supported by the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation, promises to advance our understanding of lactation, benefiting families across the globe. Discover more stories like this by following Education Post News.