Melanie Rae Simpson

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Medicine 2008 (Newcastle University, Australia)
• Bachelor of Medical Science 2006 (Newcastle University)
• Masters in Medical Statistics, 2015 (Newcastle University)
• PhD i samfunnmedisin, 2018 (NTNU - Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet)

Current project: My PhD will predominantly focus on the immunological and microbiological contents of breast milk samples which were collected during the Probiotics in the Prevention of Allergy amongh Children in Trondheim (ProPACT) study. The ProPACT study is a randomised, double blinded, placebo control trial investigating maternal probiotic supplementation during the later stages of pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding as a means of preventing allergy related disease in offspring. Participating mothers consumed a cultured milk containing three probiotic bacteria or placebo from 36 weeks until 3 months postpartum and their children were examined for allergic diseases at 2 and 6 years of age.  At 2 years of age, we observed an approximately 40% reduction in the cumulative incidenc of atopic dermatitis (eczema) in children born to mothers who had consumed the probiotic milk, and a trend towards an ongoing preventative effect at 6 years of age. 

We hope that analysis of the breast milk samples will contribute to an understanding of the biological mechanisms behind the preventative effect of maternal probiotic supplementation on eczema.  Cytokines, extracellular vesicles, miRNA and bacteria in the breast milk samples will be examined as potential mediators of the preventative effect.  

The ProPACT Study is a substudy of the larger population intervention study (PACT) which aimed to reduce childhood allergy related diseases through reducing environmental smoke and damp/mold exposure and increasing fish consumption during pregnancy and early infancy.