Research output per year
Research output per year
Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
The nutritional ‘environment’ in utero is now recognised to influence the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease in the offspring. Lucilla Poston's focus of this area of research is the consequences of maternal obesity and calorie-rich diets on the developing fetus. Her laboratory was amongst the first to develop animal models which have shown that the offspring of obese rodents develop a predisposition to obesity, hypertension and insulin resistance at a young age. Recent work has suggested that endocrine influences on the developing hypothalamus may permanently affect hypothalamic function, including pathwyas affecting satiety and blood pressure control. In the clinic, Lucilla Poston's team have developed a complex intervention with the aim of improving pregnancy outcome and, potentially, reducing the risk of obesity in the child (the UPBEAT trial). This research is funded by the NIHR, the British Heart Foundation, the MRC, the BBSRC, Tommy’s Charity, the Earnest Programme (EU Framework 7) and commercial partners.
Pre-eclampsia.
The Division of Women's Health at King's College London has a long standing interest in pre-eclampsia research. Pre-eclampsia remains a common disorder in pregnancy, affecting 3-5% of all pregnancies and threatening the health and indeed the lives of the mother and her baby. Characterised by hypertension and proteinuria, pre-eclampsia is a syndrome which can affect many organs including the brain, liver, lung and kidney. Lucilla Poston's early research in this field contributed to the knowledge that endothelial dysfunction in maternal blood vessels plays a focal role in the disease, and that oxidative stress is likely to have a mechanistic function. Her team showed that prophylaxis with antioxidants was not effective in preventionof pre-eclampsia. Much of her present research effort is directed towards early biomarker discovery which not only has benefit in terms of prediction of the disorder but also in identification of contributory causes. This is undertaken as part of the SCOPE international collaboration, PI Professor Robyn North, a part time Professor in the Division. Funding for this research is provided by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, Tommy’s Charity and commercial partners.
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Doctor of Philosophy, University of London
Award Date: 1 Jan 1982
Bachelor of Science, University of London
Award Date: 1 Jan 1975
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Poston, L., Magee, L. & Stewart, R.
1/04/2023 → 31/03/2028
Project: Research
Magee, L., Boulding, H., Duncan, E., Fox-Rushby, J., Molteni, E., Poston, L., Soley Bori, M., Wolfe, I. & von Dadelszen, P.
NIHR National Institute For Health & Care Research
1/11/2021 → 30/04/2024
Project: Research
Lucilla Poston (Member)
Activity: Other › Types of External academic engagement - Membership of external research organisation
Lucilla Poston (Member)
Activity: Other › Types of External academic engagement - Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups
Lucilla Poston (Editorial board member)
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial activity
Lucilla Poston (Fellow)
Activity: Other › Types of External academic engagement - Membership of external research organisation
Lucilla Poston (Advisor)
Activity: Other › Types of Business and Community - Work on advisory panel to industry or government or non-government organisation
Poston, Lucilla (Recipient), 2017
Prize: National/international honour
Poston, Lucilla (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Poston, Lucilla (Recipient), 2009
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively