Mead Johnson Pediatric Nutrition Institute Presents Latest Nutrition Science at Global Pediatric Conference

Scientists from the Mead Johnson Pediatric Nutrition Institute (MJPNI) shared their research on pediatric nutrition at the 46th annual meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN), held last month in London. ESPGHAN is a premier pediatric nutrition congress attracting more than 4,000 leading research and medical professionals from around the world.

The MJPNI also hosted a symposium that brought together world leading pediatric nutrition experts to discuss the role of nutrition in optimizing pediatric health and development.

Nearly 700 scientists and medical professionals attended the symposium, entitled “Early Programming: Microbiome Impact of Allergy Tolerance and the Brain.” The session, chaired by Colin Rudolph, MD, PhD, vice president of Global Medical Affairs and chief medical officer, Mead Johnson Nutrition, featured presentations by:

• Roberto Bernini Canani, MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Naples, Italy, who spoke on “New Data on the Clinical Management of Cow’s Milk Allergy Through Tolerance Acquisition.”
• Stephen Collins, MB.BS, FRCPC, the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, who discussed “Emerging Concepts of Microbiome-Brain Interactions.”
• Allan Walker, MD, Conrad Taff Professor of Nutrition and pediatrics, Harvard Medical School and Director, Mucosal Immunology Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, who conducted a session on “Diet, Microbiota and Programming of Mucosal Immunity.” The speakers’ remarks included the latest information on how supplementing infants’ diets with probiotics, such as LGG and Bifidobacteria, can help promote good immune and digestive health, while reducing the risk of allergies.

In addition to the symposium, MJPNI added to the growing body of pediatric nutrition research with 13 abstracts, including two oral presentations and four posters of distinction. The Institute also hosted “MJPNI Collaboration Cafés,” small-group dialogues between regional pediatricians and MJPNI scientists.

“Attending respected conferences such as ESPGHAN not only allows us to interact with physicians from around the world, but underscores the leadership role Mead Johnson plays in advancing the science of infant nutrition,” said Dr. Rudolph. For more information about ESPGHAN, visit www.espghan2013.org