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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

Nutritional Intervention Preconception and During Pregnancy to Maintain Healthy Glucose Metabolism and Offspring Health ("NiPPeR"): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
Keith Godfrey, Wayne Cutfield, Shiao-Yng Chan, Philip N. Baker, Yap Seng Chong & Caroline Childs, 2017, Trials, 18
DOI: 10.1186/s13063-017-1875-x
Type: article
Developmental origins of health and disease
Janis Baird, Chandni Maria Jacob, Mary Barker, Caroline Fall, Mark Hanson, Nicholas Harvey, Hazel Inskip, Kalyanaraman Kumaran & Cyrus Cooper, 2017, Healthcare (Basel), 5(1)
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare5010014
Type: article
Associations of maternal vitamin B12 concentration in pregnancy with the risks of preterm birth and low birth weight
T. Rogne, M.J. Tielemans, Mary Foong-Fong Chong, C.S. Yajnik, G.V. Krishnaveni, L. Poston, V.W. Jaddoe, E.A. Steegers, S. Joshi, Yap-Seng Chong, K. Godfrey, F. Yap, R. Yahyaoui, T. Thomas, G. Hay, M. Hogeveen, A. Demir, P. Saravanan, E. Skovlund, M.P. Martinmussen, G.W. Jacobsen, O.H. Franco, M.B. Bracken & K. Risnes, 2017, American Journal of Epidemiology, 185(3), 212-223
DOI: 10.1093/aje/kww212
Type: article
Maternal circadian eating time and frequency are associated with blood glucose concentrations during pregnancy
S.L. Loy, J.K. Chan, P.H. Wee, M.T. Colega, Y.B. Cheung, K.M. Godfrey, K. Kwek, S.M. Saw, Y.S. Chong, P. Natarajan, F. Muller-Riemenschneider, N. Lek, M.F. Chong & Fabian Yap, 2017, Journal of Nutrition, 147(1), 70-77
DOI: 10.3945/jn.116.239392
Type: article
Epigenetic inheritance and the responsibility for health in society
Mark Hanson & Ruth Muller, 2017, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 5(1), 11-12
DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(16)30400-4
Type: article
Influence of maternal obesity on the long-term health of offspring
K.M. Godfrey, R.M. Reynolds, S.L. Prescott, M. Nyirenda, V.W. Jaddoe, J.G. Eriksson & B.F. Broekman, 2017, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 5(1), 53-64
DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(16)30107-3
Type: article
Nutritional interventions or exposures in infants and children aged up to three years and their effects on subsequent risk of overweight, obesity, and body fat: A systematic review of systematic reviews
B. Patro-Golab, B.M. Zalewski, M. Kolodziej, S. Kouwenhoven, L. Poston, K,M. Godfrey, B. Koletzko, J.B. van Goudoever & H. Szajewska, 2016, Obesity Reviews, 17(12), 1245-1257
DOI: 10.1111/obr.12476
Type: article