Persistent echoes of early life Event as iCalendar

(Lectures)

30 July 2014

5 - 6pm

Venue: Lecture theatre 505-007

Location: FMHS Building 505, 85 Park Road Grafton. Hospitality from 4.30pm in the Liggins Institute Foyer, level 0

Host: Liggins Institute

Contact info: Eleanor Surtida, phone (09) 923 1966

Contact email: b.surtida@auckland.ac.nz

Website: http:www.liggins.auckland.ac.nz

Paul Hofman

Early-life events have well recognised effects on a range of later health outcomes including body composition, metabolism and adult disease risk. Events occurring from before conception through to late pregnancy have been associated with differing, adverse outcomes, dependent on the timing and duration of the events. Surprisingly, both over- and under-nutrition during fetal and/or neonatal development have similar outcomes with regard to body composition and metabolism. It appears that being born preterm or post-term, small or large for gestational age all increase later risk for obesity, insulin resistance and diseases described collectively as the metabolic syndrome.

In his lecture, Professor Hofman will describe his research group’s initial observations pertaining to small for gestational age and preterm children, and how they have extended these to older cohorts and other at-risk groups. His talk will also explore data suggesting potential long-term differences in growth and metabolic risk relating to birth order and parental age.

Indeed, early life is critically important and has persistent echoes far into the future.


Professor Hofman is a Paediatric Endocrinologist who combines clinical work at Starship Children’s Hospital with research at the Liggins Institute. His primary research focus is on the developmental origins of adult disease, with particular interests in the metabolic complications of being born preterm, the role of exercise during pregnancy in preventing offspring obesity, the effect of exercise on cardiovascular function in diabetic and obese adolescents, and the long term outcomes for children identified with congenital hypothyroidism, during new-born screening.

He holds leadership positions in the discipline’s two largest regional societies: Immediate Past-president of the Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group and President-elect of the Asia Pacific Paediatric Endocrine Society. He also assists a number of support groups including Diabetes Youth, Turner Syndrome Society, the Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Society and the Prader Willi Syndrome Society, of which he is a past president. He is part of a small group of regional endocrinologists involved in improving endocrine training in the Asia Pacific Region and is involved regularly in endocrine training workshops in Asia. He is a member of several national committees including the Growth Hormone Committee and the National Newborn Advisory Board.

Professor Hofman is Clinical Director of the Paykel Clinical Research Unit at the Liggins Institute