The establishment of DOHaD working groups in Australia and New Zealand.
The evidence underpinning the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) is overwhelming. As the emphasis shifts more towards interventions and the translational strategies for disease prevention, it is important to capitalize on collaboration and knowledge sharing to maximize opportunities for discovery and replication. DOHaD meetings are facilitating this interaction. However, strategies to perpetuate focussed discussions and collaborations around and between conferences are more likely to facilitate the development of DOHaD research. For this reason, the DOHaD Society of Australia and New Zealand (DOHaD ANZ) has initiated themed Working Groups, which convened at the 2014-2015 conferences. This report introduces the DOHaD ANZ Working Groups and summarizes their plans and activities. One of the first Working Groups to form was the ActEarly birth cohort group, which is moving towards more translational goals. Reflecting growing emphasis on the impact of early life biodiversity - even before birth - we also have a Working Group titled Infection, inflammation and the microbiome. We have several Working Groups exploring other major non-cancerous disease outcomes over the lifespan, including Brain, behaviour and development and Obesity, cardiovascular and metabolic health. The Epigenetics and Animal Models Working Groups cut across all these areas and seeks to ensure interaction between researchers. Finally, we have a group focussed on 'Translation, policy and communication' which focusses on how we can best take the evidence we produce into the community to effect change. By coordinating and perpetuating DOHaD discussions in this way we aim to enhance DOHaD research in our region.
1University of Western Australia School of Paediatrics and Child Health,Princess Margaret Hospital for Children,Perth, WA,Australia.
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Prescott
2Department of Paediatrics,Murdoch Childrens Research Institute,University of Melbourne,Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville,VIC,Australia.
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K
Allen
3School of Health Sciences,Flinders University,Adelaide,SA,Australia.
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K
Armstrong
4Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, Faculty of Health and Medicine,The University of Newcastle,Callaghan,NSW,Australia.
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C
Collins
5Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Translational Research Facility,Clayton,VIC,Australia.
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H
Dickinson
6Murdoch Childrens Research Institute,Royal Children's Hospital,Parkville,VIC,Australia.
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K
Gardiner
7IMPACT Strategic Research Centre,Deakin University,Geelong,VIC,Australia.
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F
Jacka
8Department of Anatomy, Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Brain Health Research Centre,Otago School of Medical Sciences,University of Otago,Dunedin,New Zealand.
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C
Jasoni
8Department of Anatomy, Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Brain Health Research Centre,Otago School of Medical Sciences,University of Otago,Dunedin,New Zealand.
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T
Moore
10School of Biomedical Sciences,The University of Queensland,St Lucia,QLD,Australia.
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KM
Moritz
11FOODplus Research Centre,Department of Food and Wine Science,School of Agriculture Food and Wine,The University of Adelaide,Adelaide,SA,Australia.
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B
Muhlhausler
6Murdoch Childrens Research Institute,Royal Children's Hospital,Parkville,VIC,Australia.
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W
Siero
13Charles Perkins Centre,The University of Sydney,NSW,Australia.
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K
Sim
13Charles Perkins Centre,The University of Sydney,NSW,Australia.
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R
Nanan
9Department of Paediatrics,Murdoch Childrens Research Institute,Royal Children's Hospital,University of Melbourne,Parkville,VIC,Australia.
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R
Saffery
14Menzies School of Health Research,Charles Darwin University,Darwin, NT.
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G
Singh
16Liggins Institute,University of Auckland,Auckland,New Zealand.
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Vickers
6Murdoch Childrens Research Institute,Royal Children's Hospital,Parkville,VIC,Australia.
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http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3979-7849
JM
Craig
animal models; birth cohorts; epigenetics; obesity; translation