LRF NGN
The Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Center for Neurodevelopment, Growth and Nutrition of the Newborn at the University of Zurich is led by Professor Giancarlo Natalucci.
LRF NGN focus: Interdisciplinary research on early-life nutrition – especially human milk – and its impact on neurodevelopment, growth and long-term health in infants, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable newborns.
LRF NGN team
How LRF NGN describes its work
We conduct interdisciplinary research integrating clinical pediatrics, developmental psychology, and cellular biology to understand how early-life nutrition – particularly human milk – and environmental factors shape neurodevelopment and child outcomes.
Focusing especially on vulnerable newborns, we study the dynamic interaction between nutrition, parental caregiving, and the home environment during the first 1,000 days of life to generate evidence that informs innovative strategies for improving long-term health and development.
Our distinctive expertise lies in integrating clinical pediatric and developmental psychology research with cellular and molecular approaches to investigate how early-life nutrition – particularly human milk – and associated environmental factors influence neurological and neurocognitive development, especially in high-risk newborns.
Prof. Giancarlo Natalucci
Director, LRF NGN
“This complements the consortium by providing interdisciplinary insights that link biological mechanisms with clinical and developmental outcomes, thereby strengthening a holistic understanding of early-life health.”
Photo: © Markus Forte, all rights reserved
Additional to its own projects, LRF NGN comes together with the other LRF Research Centers on GHMRC collaborations and interdisciplinary, multi-center projects.
Cross-center, interdisciplinary collaborations via the GHMRC
LRF NGN and LRF CIBF: ‘NeuroNurture: Unveiling Neurodevelopmental Trajectories Promoted by Colostrum’
LRF NGN and LRF CIBF: ‘The Role of Colostrum Feeding in Neurodevelopment’
LRF NGN and LRF OCEHL: ‘Characterising the Impact of Maternal Well-being on Hormone-regulated Lactation Initiation: A Longitudinal Study’
LRF NGN and LRF OCEH: ‘From Lactation to Innovation: Leveraging Human Milk Extracellular Vesicles for Neurodevelopment’
LRF NGN and LRF MOMI CORE: ‘Human Milk Composition and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes’
LRF NGN and LRF CEB: ‘Fathers, Fatherhood Norms, and Breastfeeding’
Vision for the GHMRC
To advance an integrated understanding of breastfeeding and human milk through interdisciplinary collaboration, generating knowledge that translates into improved clinical practice and global child health outcomes.
Value of the GHMRC
The GHMRC enables collaboration across complementary disciplines to address key knowledge gaps in breastfeeding and human milk research, ultimately contributing to better health, development, and equity for mothers and children worldwide.
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LRF NGN research vision and goal
The vision of the LRF NGN is to understand how nutrition, particularly with human milk, affects the neurocognitive development of the child. In doing so, it is important to us to consider nutrition as one aspect of the child's (home) learning environment.
The long-term goal is to use this knowledge to provide better strategies, treatments and diagnostic tools so that children around the world can reach their full potential.