Translational Research on Pediatric Metabolic Conditions

Our research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms linking early-life nutrition and growth to childhood obesity, mental health, and adult metabolic diseases, within the framework of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD). Our multidisciplinary team, composed of doctors, nutritionists, biologists, biochemists, and laboratory technicians, conducts translational research that bridges clinical studies and experimental models.

We develop experimental mouse models that closely mimic human pathophysiology, while also conducting clinical studies to create new prevention and treatment strategies. This bidirectional approach allows us to transfer clinical insights into experimental models and apply laboratory findings to real-world clinical settings.

In recent years, we have applied "omic" techniques, including metabolomics of breast milk and analyses of the metabolome, epigenome, and metagenome in a clinical cohort of prepubertal children with obesity. We assess the physiological roles of these biomarkers using in vitro and in vivo models, aiming to understand their role in the pathophysiology of both metabolic and mental health conditions, and to propose novel nutritional and therapeutic interventions for childhood obesity and related disorders.