Dr Geula Hanin awarded MRC Career Development Award

Dr Geula Hanin awarded MRC Career Development Award to decode the biology of breastfeeding and early life nutrition

We are delighted to announce that Dr Geula Hanin has been awarded the prestigious MRC Career Development Award to launch a research programme on the biology of breastfeeding and early life nutrition. As part of this award, she will join us at the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience (PDN), where she will establish her independent research group.

Her project, “Decoding the Molecular Basis of Lactation and Early Nutrition to Improve Maternal-Child Health,” seeks to uncover the fundamental biological mechanisms that regulate lactation and shape early postnatal development. Despite breastfeeding being a defining feature of mammalian life, with clear benefits for both mothers and infants, its underlying molecular processes remain surprisingly underexplored.

Dr Hanin’s approach is distinctive in its scope, viewing the mother, milk, and infant as a single, integrated system. Her research will investigate how genetic and molecular signals govern mammary gland development and function, with a particular focus on imprinted genes, a class of genes expressed based on parental origin. While these genes are known to be essential in early development, their role in lactation remains largely unknown.

Combining advanced mouse models, molecular techniques and analysis of human breastmilk, her team will explore genetic mechanisms regulating milk production, infant growth, and the communication between the mammary gland and other maternal organs. This systems-level insight could transform our understanding of why some mothers experience lactation difficulties and help uncover the biological drivers behind breastfeeding disparities across populations.

“I’m honoured to receive this fellowship,” said Dr Hanin. “Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to support maternal and infant health, yet the science behind it is still not well understood. My goal is to change that by revealing the molecular foundations of lactation, we can support families more effectively, improve healthcare, and make breastfeeding science a recognised priority in medicine and biology.”