Cambridge Lactation Network

ABOVE: Cambridge Lactation Network Symposium - September 2025

The Cambridge Lactation Network was launched in November 2021 with the first event bringing together interested lactation researchers from several Departments and Institutions across Cambridge. The purpose of the network is to help foster collaboration and resource sharing, where together we hope to untangle the role lactation and human milk has in health, disease, development and beyond. The network is welcome to all members of the research community interested in lactation biology. Together we hope to build a thriving milk-centred society.

The network hosts quarterly meetings with a longer symposium held in summer.

Cambridge Lactation Network Summer Symposium

When: Friday, 12 June, 2026 - 09:00 to 17:00

Where: Department of Pharmacology, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge

Go to the event page to find out more and register your place.

To hear more join the mailing list

PAST MEETINGS

Cambridge Lactation Network Summer Symposium

When: 11 September 2025, 1.30-5.30pm
Where: Jean Thomas Lecture theatre, Sanger Building, Tennis Court Road

The most recent symposium held in September provided a valuable opportunity to integrate insights from biological science, public health, clinical practice and social science. The discussions were highly productive, the feedback received was constructive and impactful. This has strengthened the networks understanding of key challenges in lactation research and practices and will inform the direction and scope of our future work as researchers and as a network.

Supported by the Events Fund

PROGRAMME

Time	Title/activity	Speaker
13:30-13:45	Registration and coffee	Catering by Biochemistry (tea/coffee/biscuits)
13:45-14:00	Cambridge Lactation Network: Overview and goals	Geula Hanin (PDN), & Albert Koulman (IMS-MRL)
14:00-14:40	Keynote: The MAMI study: breastfeeding and public health (30-minute presentation + 10 min Q&A)	Marko Kerac (LSHTM)
14:40-15:00	Human Milk Banks in India: A Health Policy and Systems Analysis of Frameworks, Implementation and Equity	Professor Ranjini Raghavendra (RV University, Bangalore, India)
15:00-16:20	Introduction to the Infant feeding team at the Rosie Hospital (15 min + 5 min Q&A)	Aime Field (Lead midwife for Infant feeding team, Rosie Hospital)
15:20-15:40	Cell type specific changes in transcriptome and epigenome during lactation (15 min + 5 min Q&A)	Geula Hanin (PDN)
15:40-16:00	Lived experience of a breastfeeding mother (15 min + 5 min Q&A)	Dorottya (Dorka) Nemes interviewed by Gabrielle Oxley (Biochem/Pharm)
16:00-16:20	Human Milk Oligosaccharides: The Secret Architects of Infant Health	Bin Zhang (South China University of Technology)
16:20-16:30	Closing remarks	Geula Hanin
16:30-	Drink, canapes and networking	Catering by Aromi

Cambridge Lactation Network event

When: 17th of January 15:30-17:00
Where: Coleman Library at the Department of Biochemistry, Hopkins Building.

Presentation by Dr Adria LeBoeuf (Dep. Zoology) on “Socially Transferred Materials and Metabolic Division of Labour”. Followed by refreshments and a guided discussion on the available breastfeeding support materials.

To find out more or register for the network contact the organisers
Dr Alecia-Jane Twigger (ajt215@cam.ac.uk)
Dr Albert Koulman (ak675@medschl.cam.ac.uk)
Dr Geula Hanin (ghl35@cam.ac.uk)