Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Pediatric Clinical Research - PCR

The goal of the PCR group is to do research in infants, children and mothers with important scientific relevance and health implications for humans and animals. The focus is on nutrition and infections.

Research focus

The studies range from human milk biology to cohort studies and clinical trials at hospitals across the world from Denmark to China. We are particularly focused on preterm and growth-restricted infants. Together with clinicians at hospitals, we investigate new (diet) treatments. With epidemiologists, we study infant cohorts and identify how treatments relate to disease outcomes. The research ideas are closely coupled to findings in parallel studies with animal (piglet) or cell models. Vice versa, we use the new knowledge from infants to give advice on optimal treatments also of weak newborn animals. The PCR group involves a continuous exchange between clinical researchers at hospitals and basic biologists.

“By linking basic biologists, clinicians and epidemiologists, we maximize the basic and applied outcome of translation research” says group leader, Professor Per Torp Sangild.

Main findings

We have shown that feeding practices and disease outcomes vary widely for the most fragile newborn infants in hospitals around the world: Time to Full Enteral Feeding for Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants Varies Markedly Among Hospitals Worldwide. DOI: 10.1002/jpen.1466.

Feeding by mouth may have important effects after intestinal surgery in both infants and piglets: Minimal Enteral Nutrition to Improve Adaptation After Intestinal Resection in Piglets and Infants. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28786308.

We have proved initial safety and efficacy of a newel milk diet for sensitive newborn infants: Bovine Colostrum for Preterm Infants in the First Days of Life: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.
DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000001774.