Department of Nutrition Students and Faculty Shine at IMGC Symposium in Denmark

The UC Davis Department of Nutrition and its collaborators made a strong impact at this year’s International Milk Genomics Consortium (IMGC) Symposium in Aarhus, Denmark, with students, faculty, and clinical researchers all contributing to the program. The symposium brought together scientists, industry leaders, and clinicians from around the world to advance understanding of milk, its bioactive components, and its role in human health across the lifespan.

Graduate Group in Nutritional Biology (GGNB) students Abigail Galyon and Hillary Lo were honored with the prestigious IMGC Student Travel Award, a recognition reserved for emerging leaders in milk science. Both delivered engaging presentations of their research to the international audience.

Abigail presented findings from the MOM2CHild study, which investigates how excess adiposity and related metabolic conditions influence human milk composition. Her analysis identified differences in the milk metabolome particularly from metabolites related to energy and fat metabolism, between people exclusively human milk feeding and those supplementing with formula in the early postpartum period. These findings offer new insight into how possible differences in the mammary gland or metabolism may affect human milk feeding challenges.

Hillary presented research from the Guelph Family Health Study, exploring associations between dairy-derived saturated fat intake and body composition in young Canadian children. Her findings contribute to a growing body of evidence suggesting potential benefits of dairy fat on children’s lipid metabolism, raising important questions about current dietary guidance.

Fellow UC Davis researchers also delivered impactful presentations. Xuan He, from Carolyn Slupsky’s lab, presented a multi-omics analysis of α-lactalbumin in a neonatal piglet model, showing how this milk protein may influence tryptophan metabolism, serotonin regulation, and host-microbial interactions. This line of research has already led to one publication in npj Science of Food, with another forthcoming.

Dr. Nicole Cacho, a neonatologist at UC Davis Medical Center, presented on electrolyte and mineral differences among human milk fortifier highlighting the importance of tailored fortification practices to optimize nutrient delivery for critically ill preterm infants, further illustrating the breadth and clinical relevance of milk science research emerging from the university.

Guiding UC Davis’s strong presence at the symposium was Assistant Professor Dr. Jennifer Smilowitz, who serves as the IMGC’s Director of Scientific and Strategic Development. In this role, Dr. Smilowitz ensures the rigor and reach of the consortium by overseeing the double-blind abstract review process, fostering global collaborations, and championing student engagement. Her leadership underscores the IMGC’s mission to recognize and support the next generation of milk science researchers.

Together, these contributions showcased the depth and breadth of UC Davis’s expertise in milk and lactation science, from molecular and clinical research to global leadership, reinforcing the university’s role as a driving force in advancing the field.

For more information about the International Milk Genomics Consortium including upcoming symposia, awards programs, and the latest research in milk science, visit milkgenomics.org.