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. One focus of Lucilla Poston's research is to define the consequences of obesity in pregnant women and of sub-optimal maternal nutrition on the developing fetus. Her laboratory was amongst the first to develop animal models demonstrating that the offspring of obese rodents develop a predisposition to obesity, hypertension and insulin resistance at a young age. These also suggested that endocrine influences on the developing hypothalamus may permanently affect function, including central pathways influencing satiety and blood pressure control. In the clinic, Lucilla’s team developed a complex lifestyle intervention for pregnant women living with obesity, the UPBEAT study. Studies by her team in UPBEAT women who developed Gestational Diabetes (GDM) have provided insight into metabolic dysfunction of this increasingly common disorder. UPBEAT continues with investigations of cardiometabolic outcomes in the UPBEAT children. Recently Lucilla’s team have developed a longitudinal maternal child cohort (eLIXIR, Born in South London) using linkage of routine electronic health records, one of the MRC's Longitudinal Populations Cohorts. This linkage is facilitating the study of the early origins of disease at a population level.
Pregnancy, obesity, gestational diabetes, nutrition, pre-eclampsia, Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, data linkage, maternal-child cohort
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
Member Africa Research Leadership Panel, MRC Medical Research Council
2024 → …
Member Research Committee, Diabetes UK
2022 → …
Member Applied Global Health Research Board, MRC Medical Research Council
2020 → 2023
Member, Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)
2018 → …
Member Career Development Award Panel, Wellcome Trust
2018 → 2024
President, International Society for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
2017 → …
Member Population Systems and Medicine Board (PSMB), MRC Medical Research Council
2013 → 2017
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: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Poston, L. (Primary Investigator)
1/07/2023 → 30/06/2026
Project: Research
Poston, L. (Primary Investigator), Magee, L. (Co-Investigator) & Stewart, R. (Co-Investigator)
1/04/2023 → 31/03/2028
Project: Research
White, S. (Primary Investigator), Berry, S. (Co-Investigator), Dalrymple, K. (Co-Investigator), Hall, W. (Co-Investigator), Poston, L. (Co-Investigator) & Whelan, K. (Co-Investigator)
1/10/2022 → 31/12/2027
Project: Research
Taylor, P. (Primary Investigator), Chowienczyk, P. (Co-Investigator), Gu, H. (Co-Investigator), Poston, L. (Co-Investigator) & Santosh, P. (Co-Investigator)
1/06/2022 → 31/03/2026
Project: Research
Poston, L. (Primary Investigator)
QNRF Qatar National Research Fund
6/11/2018 → 11/09/2026
Project: Research
Poston, L. (Member)
Activity: Other › Types of External academic engagement - Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups
Poston, L. (Member)
Activity: Other › Types of External academic engagement - Membership of external research organisation
Poston, L. (Editorial board member)
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial activity
Poston, L. (Fellow)
Activity: Other › Types of External academic engagement - Membership of external research organisation
Poston, L. (Member)
Activity: Other › Types of External academic engagement - Membership of external research organisation
Poston, L. (Recipient), 2017
Prize: National/international honour
Poston, L. (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Poston, L. (Recipient), 2009
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively