Seminar Series: Laurent Briollais, PhD
Date: Friday, March 1
Time: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Location: MSB 384 (Medical Sciences Building)
The Role of Early-Life Growth Development, Genetic Factors and Exclusive Breastfeeding on Child BMI Trajectories
Laurent Briollais, PhDSenior scientist
Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute
Mount Sinai Hospital,Toronto
Associate Professor
Biostatistics Division
Dalla Lana School of Public Health
University of Toronto
Short Bio:
Dr. Briollais is a scientist at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute since 2000 with expertise in statistical genetics and Associate Professor in Biostatistics at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto.
Dr. Laurent Briollais' research program focuses on the development of statistical methods and study designs to identify and characterize genetic and environmental risk factors that influence complex human diseases at the population level. Recently, he has been working on the development and application of innovative computational and statistical approaches to identify epigenetic mechanisms associated with the Development Origin of Health and Diseases (DOHaD).
With Dr. Stephen Lye at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum as well as international collaborators in Australia, Dr. Briollais revealed in a groundbreaking study published in November 2012, that the length of time a baby is breastfed positively impacts the effects of the fat mass and obesity gene (FTO) in young adults. The study followed children in Western Australia from birth to 14 years of age, and found that breastfeeding can help reverse the effects of the FTO gene variant if a child is exclusively breastfed for at least three months.
Notes: Coffee and tea will be provided. To reduce waste, guests are encouraged to bring a reusable mug or cup to the seminar. All are welcome. View the complete Seminar Series Listing.
