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Research project

Hanson RG/15/17/31749 Epigenetic Biomarkers and Determinants of Cardiovascular Risk in Children

Project overview

This application aims to determine: early biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk at birth/during childhood; the window(s) when early life interventions to reduce the risk of obesity and CVD are most effective; and the nature of potentially effective intervention(s). In the Southampton Women's Survey (SWS) prospective preconception cohort, we have discovered perinatal epigenetic biomarkers of later CVD risk in mechanistically relevant genes, now confirmed in our other cohorts. We will determine how these biomarkers relate to the trajectory of adiposity, cardiovascular structure, function and fitness in SWS children to age 12yrs. Using SWS samples collected at birth and age 12yrs we will extend our panel of epigenetic biomarkers and investigate interactions with fixed genetic variants in relation to CVD risk. Then we will relate the resulting biomarker panel to CVD risk in children from ongoing cohorts in which pre- or post-natal interventions to modify risk factors are being made.

Staff

Lead researchers

Emeritus Professor Mark Hanson

Research interests
  • Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)
  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Developmental nutrition and epigenetic mechanisms
Connect with Mark

Email: M.Hanson@soton.ac.uk

Other researchers

Professor Cyrus Cooper

Prof Rheumatology Clinical Epidemiology
Research interests
  • Key research contributions have been:
  • discovery of the developmental influences which contribute to the risk of osteoporosis and hi…
  • demonstration that maternal vitamin D insufficiency is associated with sub-optimal bone miner…
Connect with Cyrus

Email: cc@mrc.soton.ac.uk

Professor Keith Godfrey

Associate Dean – KEE
Connect with Keith

Email: kmg@mrc.soton.ac.uk

Emeritus Professor Hazel Inskip MSc, PhD, FFPH

Connect with Hazel

Email: hmi@mrc.soton.ac.uk

Collaborating research institutes, centres and groups

Research outputs

Nutrients or nursing? Understanding how breast milk feeding affects child cognition
Wei Wei Pang, Pei Ting Tan, Shirong Cai, Doris Fok, Mei Chien Chua, Sock Bee Lim, Lynette P. Shek, Shiao-Yng Chan, Kok Hian Tan, Fabian Yap, Peter D. Gluckman, Keith Godfrey, Michael J. Meaney, Birit Broekman, Michael S. Kramer, Yap-Seng Chong & Anne Rifkin-Graboi, 2020, European Journal of Nutrition, 59(2), 609-619
DOI: 10.1007/s00394-019-01929-2
Type: article
Associations between early-life screen viewing and 24 hour movement behaviours: findings from a longitudinal birth cohort study
Bozhi Chen, Jonathan Y. Bernard, Padmapriya Natarajan, Yilin Ning, Shirong Cai, Carla Lanca, K.H. Tan, F. Yap, Yap-Seng Chong, Lynette Shek, Keith Godfrey, S-M. Saw, Shiao-Yng Chan, Johan G. Eriksson, C.S. Tan & Falk Müller-Riemenschneider, 2020, The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 4(3), 201-209
DOI: 10.1016/S2352-4642(19)30424-9
Type: article
Associations between dietary patterns, eating behaviours, and body composition and adiposity in 3-year children of mothers with obesity
K.V. Darymple, A.C. Flynn, P.T. Seed, A.L. Briley, M. O'Keeffe, K.M. Godfrey & L. Poston, 2019, Pediatric Obesity
DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12608
Type: article
Evaluation of a quantitative food frequency questionnaire for 5-year-old children in an Asian population.
Ray Sugianto, Mei Jun Chan, Shiu Fung Wong, Lynette P. Shek, K.H. Tan, Y-S Chong, Keith Godfrey, B C Tai & Mary Foong-Fong Chong, 2019, Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 1-8
DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2019.09.021
Type: article
Association of sugar sweetened beverage intake at ages 18 months and 5 years with adiposity outcomes at age 6 years: The Singapore GUSTO mother-offspring cohort
Phaik Ling Quah, Josefien Kleijweg, Ya Ying Chang, Jia Ying Toh, Hui Xian Lim, Ray Sugianto, Izzuddin M. Aris, Wen Lun Yuan, Tint Mya, Jonathan Y. Bernard, Padmapriya Natarajan, Falk Müller-Riemenschneider, Keith Godfrey, Peter D. Gluckman, Yap Seng Chong, Lynette P. Shek, Kok Hian Tan, Johan G. Eriksson, Fabian Yap, Yung Seng Lee & Mary Foong-Fong Chong, 2019, British Journal of Nutrition, 122(11), 1303-1312
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114519002253
Type: article
Associations of circadian eating pattern and diet quality with substantial postpartum weight retention
See Ling Loy, Yin Bun Cheung, Marjorelee T. Colega, Airu Chia, C.Y. Han, Keith Godfrey, Yap-Seng Chong, Lynette P. Shek, Kok Hian Tan, Ngee Lek, Jerry Kok Yen Chan, Mary Foong-Fong Chong & Fabian Yap, 2019, Nutrients, 11(11), 2686
DOI: 10.3390/nu11112686
Type: article
Maternal feeding practices and children's food intake during an ad libitum buffet meal: results from the GUSTO cohort
Lisa Fries, Mei Jun Chan, Phaik Ling Quah, Jia Ying Toh, Anna Fogel, Ai Ting Goh, Izzuddin M. Aris, Birit Broekman, Shirong Cai, Tint Mya, Yap Seng Chong, Lynette P. Shek, Yung Seng Lee, Fabian Yap, Kok Hian Tan, Peter D. Gluckman, Keith Godfrey, Irma Silva Zolezzi, Ciaran G Forde & Mary F.F. Chong, 2019, Appetite, 142, 1-9
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2019.104371
Type: article