Geddes Hartmann

Awards

Early Career Research Award - ISRHML (2008), Certificate of Distinction for Innovative Research - Raine Medical Research Foundation (2008), Healthy Children Faculty Award, Massachusetts, USA (2007), Best Publication – International Lactation Consultants Association (2005), Best Paper – Australian Sonographers Association National Conference (2001)

Background

Professor Donna Geddes is the Founding Director of the ABREAST Network, Director of The University of Western Australia Centre for Human Lactation Research and Translation and the Geddes Hartmann Human Lactation Research Group. Donna originates from a medical imaging background with an emphasis in ultrasound imaging. She has integrated this modality into many of the group’s studies providing a ‘window’ to different physiological processes during lactation. Her findings have attracted much international attention and she is often requested to speak at both International and National Scientific Meetings. She is a member of the Nutrition Society of Australia and Secretary for the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation.

Research Interests

Donna has a broad range of research interests in the physiology of lactation extending from basic to applied research. In particular she utilizes her ultrasound imaging skills to assess the lactating breast (anatomy, milk ejection and blood flow) as well as the infant (suck-swallow-breathe, gastric emptying and body composition). Her current interests include understanding the role of breastmilk in appetite control and the development of breastfeeding in the preterm infant.

Awards

Staff Development Grant – The University of Western Australia

Background

Jacki is the Business Support Specialist for The University of Western Australia Centre for Human Lactation Research and Translation, and the Geddes Hartmann Human Lactation Research Group.  Jacki holds a Diploma of Project Management (Australian Institute of Management, WA), with a career spanning 25 years in various industries, 12 of those years with The University of Western Australia.  Her role includes overseeing financial operations, implementing efficient processes, data management, and fostering collaborative teams to achieve corporate objectives.

Interests

Project and data management.

Background

A Research Fellow at the Hartmann Human Lactation Research Group (HHLRG). Dr Lai graduated from his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 1996 at UWA, where he went on to complete his Post Graduate Diploma (1997), Masters (2002) and PhD (2007) at UWA. During his postgraduate years, he was involved in research projects that determined the relationship between the immune proteins in human milk and the atopic outcome of breastfeed infants; and the impact of expression regime on the milk production and composition of preterm milk during the first two months of lactation. He is leading the biochemical research at the HHLRG, with the aim to understand the changes in human milk components in relation to breast physiology as well as the growth and development of infant.

Research Interests

Dr Lai’s current research focuses on redefine and develop analytical methodologies that utilises other bioactive components of human milk to address many other issues relate to the feeding of human milk.

Awards

DOHaD ANZ New Investigator Award (2018), DOHaD ANZ Nestle Nestle Nutrition Institute Travel Award (2018), PSANZ “Best of the Best” Abstract Award (2018), UWA PSA Travel Award (2018), UWA Travel Grant (2018), ANZPRA Award (finalist, 2017), WCMN Best Flash Talk (2017), ERBSWA Best Talk Prize (2017), ASMR (WA) Best Lay Summary (2017), UWA Travel Grant (2013).

Background

Lisa was awarded her masters of medical science in 2013 after completing a two year research project exploring the effects anti-inflammatory drugs in human and ovine placentas.  Her research focus subsequently shifted towards the perinatal microbiome, and Lisa completed her PhD in January 2019, with a thesis titled “The not-so-sterile womb: New data to challenge an old dogma”. Throughout her PhD Lisa has published extensively, engaged in science communication and public outreach, and presented her work at numerous conferences. Lisa’s research has received numerous awards and significant media attention.  Lisa has been working with the group since September 2018, with an interest in the human milk microbiome.

Research Interests

• The perinatal / early life microbiome
• Developmental origins of health and disease
• Preterm birth
• Placental function and structure

Awards

Helen Bailey Fellowship 1997

Background

Sharon is a Research Fellow at the Geddes Hartmann Human Lactation Research Group, UWA. Sharon has a clinical background with extensive experience in neonatal intensive care nursing and has a special interest in preterm breastfeeding and milk production. She has used ultrasound and intraoral vacuum measurement to examine sucking dynamics and suck-swallow-breathe coordination after preterm birth and in dyads experiencing breastfeeding difficulties. Sharon’s current work focuses on the identification and management of women at risk of low milk production and early cessation of breastfeeding, with a particular interest in lactation outcomes after pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes. She is passionate about sharing the science of human lactation with health professionals and families.

Research Interests

Sharon completed a PhD titled “The Effect Of Different Types Of Nutrition On The Gastrointestinal Response Of The Preterm Infant” in 2015 with distinction.
Sharon’s research interests include the establishment and maintenance of lactation and breastfeeding following preterm birth, low milk supply, and the effect of oral anomalies on breastfeeding outcomes.

Awards

UWA Australian Postgraduate Award (2012), Diploma summa cum laude, Bashkirskij State University (1991), Medela Top Up Scholarship (2014), PSANZ Student Symposium Award (2016), DOHaD ANZ The Nestle Nutrition Institute Prize “For translational research initiatives” (2016), inFLAME Travel Award (2018), DOHaD World Congress Travel Award (2019), ISRHML & Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Travel Fund Award (2020), The Nestle Nutrition Institute Early Researcher Award (2021).

Background

Zoya is a Research Fellow at the Geddes Hartmann Human Lactation Research Group.  She completed her PhD in the group and graduated in December 2017.  Zoya has a biochemical background with emphasis in proteomics and has previously worked in the biomedical field and in different research settings in ophthalmology. She combines established body composition measurement techniques that are used mainly in adults (ultrasound and bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy) to improve the understanding of the effect of human milk components, concentrations and intakes, on the breastfed infant’s body composition, growth and appetite control in order to reduce both childhood and adult obesity rates. Her other interests are the effects of maternal factors on breast anatomy and human milk composition, production and removal.

Research Interests

• Human milk composition
• Infant appetite control
• Body composition of the breastfed infants
• Effect of maternal factors on milk composition
• Effect of maternal factors on breast anatomy and milk production and removal

Background

In 2020 Ash completed her first year of Health Science at Curtin University.
Ash decided to follow her passion in health science, which lead her to work within the group as a research assistant.

Interests

Ash enjoys working with both people and animals, and playing netball.

Awards

Scholarship for International Research Fees (SIRF), Medela Scholarship (Ad Hoc Postgraduate Scholarship)

Background

In 2016, Jie interned at the Biotechnology Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agriculture Science, working on the transgenic insect-resistant maize, from there she developed an interest in biomolecular science.  Jie received the Bachelor of Biotechnological Science in Beijing, China, in 2017.

Jie Ma is currently a PhD candidate with the Geddes Hartmann Human Lactation Research Group, UWA. With a background in biochemistry and molecular sciences, her interest in the human milk microbiome began during her master’s program, where she explored the human milk microbiome composition in the fat fraction. Her current research focuses on the human milk microbiome in allergic populations: investigating its composition in this demographic, its potential influence on infant allergy development, and the role of other immune-related components (e.g. immune proteins) in human milk.  Her work also explores how the human milk microbiome influence infant growth. Jie is passionate about the research in human milk that particularly influence early microbiome and infant health.

Research Interests

Jie is passionate about the research in human milk that particularly influence early microbiome and infant health.

Awards

Scholarship from Saudi Arabia to pursue postgraduate studies (MSc and PhD)

Background

Roaa graduated from Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Technology at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia. In 2016, Roaa worked as laboratory specialist at ministry of health, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. In 2021, she graduated from the master of infectious diseases at UWA. In April 2022, she started her PhD candidature at the Human Lactation Research Group.

Research Interests

Roaa’s MID research project focused on unveiling virulence-related molecules from human pathogenic fungi using genomics and synthetic biology. With an interest in microbiome, Roaa started her PhD research with Prof Donna Geddes, Dr Lisa Stinson and Dr Ching Tat Lai working on temporal development of the infant oral microbiome.

By describing the temporal development of the oral microbiome during the first year of life and determining the impact of human milk on oral microbiome development will enhance our understanding of the human microbiome in health and disease and will provide the origin of the infant’s oral microbiome and the impact of breast milk on the infant’s health.

Awards

The Australian Government Research Training Program Fees Offset Scholarship, University Postgraduate Award

Background

Ruomei received the Bachelor of Biological Sciences from Beijing Forestry University in 2016.  In 2018, she graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Master’s degree in Infectious Diseases.  After graduation, Ruomei spent one year doing research at the Telethon Kids Institute with a focus on diseases caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Streptococcus pyogenes. Ruomei returned to China and volunteered her time at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Fuzhou, Fujian, China) in February 2020, followed by the commencement of employment at the Bureau of Public Health (Taijiang District, Fuzhou, Fujian, China) in May 2020.  In 2022, Ruomei returned to Perth and commenced her PhD candidature with the Human Lactation Research Group.

Research Interests

Ruomei is currently focusing on the development of human milk microbiome across the first 12 months of lactation, and relationships with the development of the infant gut microbiome and body composition.

Awards

CSC–UWA Joint PhD Scholarship

Background

Xuehua is a PhD student at the University of Western Australia. She completed a Bachelor in Food Science and Engineering from China Agricultural University in 2017, she then completed the Master’s degree at Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Protein and Cereal Processing. Her growing interests in the relationships of food components with human metabolism and human health have led her to pursue further study in Geddes Hartmann Human Lactation Research Group. Currently, she is aiming to explore the variations in human milk hormone concentrations, milk composition and maternal factors between mothers with low milk production and those with normal milk production. Her research will enable a more comprehensive understanding of low milk production and provide valuable perspectives for developing timely screening and interventions to support breastfeeding.

Research Interests

Xuehua is aiming to determine the associations between endogenic hormones and human milk production, as well as their further influences on infant growth and development.  Xuehua’s research will enable a more comprehensive understanding of low milk production.

Background

Claudia Rich is a honours student at The University of Western Australia, with a background in women’s health. She has completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science with a major in anatomy and biology as well as women’s health. Her current research focuses on examining the experiences of postpartum women regarding factors that influence their physical activity levels and the impact this has on their body composition.

Research Interests

Claudia is an Honours candidate currently studying the specific barriers and facilitators faced by women in returning to physical activity following birth.  Examining the current guidelines and support available for postpartum women regarding physical activity and the influence physical activity has upon maternal body composition and looking at participants specific suggestions for improving care.