An Oxford University research centre studying the role of hormones in human milk production has been given a £9m gift from an organisation that promotes breastfeeding.

The Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Oxford Centre for the Endocrinology of Human Lactation was the first research centre in the UK focused on the "critical" topic, according to the university.

It was first established in 2018 with an initial donation of £2.9m from the Swiss Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation.

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The centre is within the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health and it looks to enhance breastfeeding outcomes.

Professor Krina Zondervan, head of the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive said: “Our vision is to fill knowledge gaps that can improve lactation and breastfeeding outcomes.

“Thanks to this endowment, we have a unique opportunity to establish a line of research that’s been underappreciated for too long.”

The Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation (LRF), which was established in Switzerland in 2013, promotes breastfeeding and supports research in human milk and lactation.

The president of the board Dr Marco Steiner said: “We are delighted to be supporting mothers and children’s health with this endowment.

“It enables the world-renowned University of Oxford to target a neglected research topic – the physiology of breastfeeding.

“It is exciting to think that findings from LRF OCEHL will have the potential to improve breastfeeding outcomes globally.”

The foundation has also supported four similar independent research centres, two at the University of Zurich, one at the University of Western Australia and another at the University of California.

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About the author

Rob is a digital reporter who covers a wide range of topics.

He joined the Oxford Mail in February 2023 having previously been at sister paper The Bucks Free Press for two years. 

Rob completed a Sports Journalism degree before earning his NCTJ Diploma at Darlington College and can be found on X at @RobertFolker.