A new centre at The University of Western Australia aims to improve our understanding of breastfeeding as well as offer support for women and babies.

The UWA Centre for Human Lactation Research and Translation will be launched at ABREAST, the Australian Breastfeeding + Lactation Research and Science Translation conference, this Friday 10 November.

Centre director Professor Donna Geddes said the new research hub was the first of its kind in Australia.

“The Centre will conduct interdisciplinary research into areas including lactation biology, milk composition, breastfeeding challenges, and benefits for maternal and infant health,” Professor Geddes said.

“We aim to create knowledge that informs evidence-based education and improved care for women and their families throughout the lactation period, ultimately leading to enhanced well-being and improved health outcomes.”

The Centre will develop online educational material and aims to build a community platform to share information on the physiology of lactation, breastfeeding and human milk feeding practices. Research will also focus on evidence-based solutions to breastfeeding problems and benefits of breastfeeding and human milk for both mothers and babies.

Professor Anna Nowak, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at UWA said the centre would advance lactation research and provide much needed support for families.

“The facility offers the opportunity for collaborative research to have a positive impact on breastfeeding mothers and their babies,” Professor Nowak said.

The Centre will work in collaboration with the Consumer Advisory Group, the UWA Centre for Mothers and Babies and the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Next-Gen Technologies in Biomedical Analysis.

To register for the ABREAST conference, and get access to recordings of the presentations, click here. The conference will be held at the University Club of Western Australia.